____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ February 14, 1997 ____________________________________________________ The Art of Happiness by Billy Moore What is one thing that everybody wants in life? Happiness! I know you want to be happy, and so do other folks. But being happy doesn't just happen. There is a real art to happiness and each of us should try to master the art. Some cannot be happy with nothing, and others cannot be happy with everything. In fact, some folks just never seem to be happy; they don't know what they want in life but they are sure they don't have it. They do not like who they are, what they are, or what they are doing. One fellow was complaining because he had lost his glasses, until he met a man who had lost his sight. I really believe God made man to be happy, that He desires happiness for us and has taught us how to be happy. The sermon on the mount is a wonderful discourse on being happy, but most people have no time to read and study it, just too busy running after what ever it is they think will make them happy. Most just look at others to see what they are doing, then decide that it is what they must do to be happy. Some Basic Things We Need There are some necessary things we must have to be happy. 1. Food and clothing -- ``having food an raiment let us be therewith content'' (1 Tim. 6:8). It would be hard to convince someone that he is happy while he is hungry, thirsty or has no clothing to cover and protect his body. 2. Shelter--a house, place to live. I am told there are thousands of ``street people'' in the country, who have no place to live, but sleep in doorways, or public places. Ask them if they are happy and most would say, No. This shelter may be a grass hut or a house of brick, that's not the important thing. A big house doesn't make one happy. ``It is better to dwell in the corner of a housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house'' (Prov. 25:24). (I think a man wrote that!) 3. Someone with whom to share life. This is a natural desire for us all. There are few Robinson Crusoes; most prefer to have one with whom to share the days and years of life. 4. Something worthwhile to do. Each of us needs the feeling of accomplishment. Nothing to do leads to boredom...not happiness. We may think we would like it, but not for long. 5. A feeling of peace within. To be happiest in life we must have this inner peace--a good conscience--otherwise the burden of guilt would prevent true happiness. God's Concern For Man's Happiness I believe God supplies the basic things for man's happiness. Think of man as God made him and consider what God did for him. 1. Food and clothing. To Adam God said, ``Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat'' (Gen. 2:16), ``thou shalt eat the herb of the field'' (Gen. 3:17-19). The good earth continues to supply food for man. As to clothing, ``God made coats of skins and clothed them'' (Gen. 3:21). Our clothing is of things produced by the earth. 2. Shelter. ``The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he formed'' (Gen. 2:8). Our houses are made of things God has provided. 3. Someone with whom to share life. God said, ``It is not good for man to be alone,'' so he made woman from him (Gen. 2:18). She was taken of man, and God said, ``Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh'' (vv. 23,24). It is still God's plan that ``every man have his own wife'' and ``every woman have her own husband'' (1 Cor. 7:2). Children are the natural result of this marriage and ``children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward'' (Ps. 127:3,4). 4. Something worthwhile to do. ``The Lord took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it'' (Gen. 2:15). When man sinned and was put out of the garden, God said, ``In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread'' (3:19). Through the centuries man has had to work to earn his bread (Eph. 4:28). Man is the provider (1 Tim. 5:8), and ``if any would not work neither should he eat'' (2 Thess. 3:10). 5. Inner peace, a good conscience toward God. After the first sin Adam and Eve were afraid of God and tried to hide themselves from God (Gen. 3:8,9). A guilty conscience will make one try to avoid God. God designed a plan whereby man could come back into a right relationship with Him. He gave commandments to man, and when he kept them he had a good conscience, when he disobeyed he felt guilty. Cain and Abel brought offerings to the Lord (Gen. 4:3,4; Cf. Heb. 11:4; Rom. 10:17). Later, Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him'' (Gen. 5:24); so man could be right with God. With the development of the nation of Israel, God gave a law to that nation. Then ``when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son'' (Gal. 4:4), ``who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a special people'' (Tit. 2:14 NKJB). Thus establishing a covenant whereby ``whosoever will'' may be a child of God and an heir of God, having a good conscience before God. A good conscience does not assure rightness with God, but it is essential to being right. One may have a good conscience and be wrong in the sight of God. Example: Saul of Tarsus. A guilty conscience prevents that inner peace that is so necessary to genuine happiness. Rate These Things As To Importance Consider these five things. Which do you think is most important to happiness? If you say food and clothing, then all who have these should be happy. But this is not the case. The same is true with the other things. After much thought I conclude that peace within is the most important of all, although man could not be his happiest without these other things, he may have all of these and be unhappy because he lacks that inner peace. Secrets of Happiness God has revealed the secrets of happiness. The key to happiness is so simple that we often overlook it--it is the right attitude toward life. Happiness is a state of mind! Determine to be happy and you will be. Happiness cannot be purchased with money, so the poor can be as happy as the rich (often happier). It cannot be learned in a classroom, so the unlearned may be as happy as the educated. (Schools may bestow various degrees, but they cannot bestow happiness.) ``For as a man thinketh in his heart so is he'' (Prov. 23:7). ``Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth'' (Rom. 14:22). A Christian should be happy because his thinking should be right. He has forgiveness of sins, one in whom he trusts, the promise of eternal life...yet many Christians are not happy. God has told us how to live: ``Let your way of life be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, `I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you''' (Heb. 13:5 NASB). To be happy your life must be free from the love of money. You have to have money, but do not develop the love of money. Learn to be content with what you have. You may seek to improve your lot in life, but be content in whatsoever state you are in (Phil. 4:11). To be happy be assured that the Lord is your helper, he will not forsake you. Four Things That Will Help Us To Learn To Be Content--Thus Happy 1. Fear God and keep his commandments. This is the whole duty of man (Eccl. 12:13). This will give us a good conscience before God. 2. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matt. 6:33). This is seeking the sovereign rule of God in your life. Letting God's will be done in your life. This will bring peace that passeth understanding. 3. Be free from the love of money. Instead of coveting those things that others have, count your blessings. This will bring contentment in whatever state you are found. We often fail to recognize the good things of life until they are gone. 4. Wait on the Lord--trust in Him. ``They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint'' (Isa. 40:31). ``Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy steps'' (Prov. 3:5,6). One thing that all of us want in life is happiness. God has told us how we can have it, but it is left to each of us to acquire it. Remember, Happiness is a state of mind...it begins with YOU. May God bless you and help you to find happiness in your life. ___________________________________________ Marred Pottery by Lloyd Barker A challenging statement is made in Jer. 18:4. The potter tried hard to make a beautiful vessel out of the clay. He failed because it marred in his hand. He made a cheaper vessel out of it due to the flaw in the material. Verses 1 - 10 tell the story of God's right to deal with people as He sees fit. Israel often complained of God's treatment of them. They became so wicked or indifferent at times God had no choice but to deal with them as marred clay. When they repented or improved, God improved in His treatment of them. How sad to see so many warped and complaining lives. Many feel God does not bless and lead them. We often complain of our position or circumstances of life. Usually our friends can see how we have put ourselves there. Refusing to see this we blame others or God. Marring before the Maker is our fault. He deals properly with all people. If we do not become a beautiful honored vessel it is our fault, not His. A little flower must bloom where it is planted. You must bloom and bear fruit regardless of your environment or treatment by other people. Determine to be good ``clay'' and the Heavenly Potter will turn us into something great. ___________________________________________ "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones" (Prov. 17:22). ___________________________________________ Selected Sentence Sermons A Christian is free but not free to sin. The secret of being a saint is being a saint in secret. He who is born of God should grow to resemble his father. No man ever regretted Christianity on his deathbed. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________