Norman Cousins was hospitalized with a rare, crippling form of arthritis. When he was diagnosed as incurable, Cousins checked out of the hospital. Aware of the harmful effects that negative emotions can have on the body, Cousins reasoned the reverse was true. So he borrowed a movie projector and prescribed his own treatment, consisting of Marx Brothers films and old “Candid Camera” reruns. It didn’t take long for him to discover that 10 minutes of laughter provided two hours of pain free sleep. Amazingly, his debilitating disease was eventually reversed. After the account of his victory appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, Cousins received more than 3,000 letters from appreciative physicians throughout the world.
What a wonderful world would it be if we all had true happiness, not to mention receiving the health benefits from it. Walking everywhere, with a genuine smile on our faces, lightness in our hearts, and just be so pleased through and through. Sounds sort of fictional in todays world doesn’t it. But to be quite honest, even if you don’t believe it, scripture tells us in several places, Joy can be found even during the worse circumstances.
In titling todays message “Happiness according to Jesus,” we will view how Jesus looked at happiness with the most beloved of his sermons, the beatitudes. From being dirt poor in spirit, to being persecuted for just doing the right thing, there actually is joy to be found even in our worse circumstances, including death.
Let us start our journey in the Gospel of Matthew ch. 5, we find there is at least eight characteristics that run contrary to our current, or worldly ideas about happiness. These describe the inner joy that can actually be experienced by choosing to follow Christ and living a life that is blessed with God at the helm. Now for each beatitude, we see the word ‘blessed.’ The Greek word mak-ar'-ee-os simply means to be happy, joyful, to be envied. Think about this when we review these.
The first blessing is being poor in spirit. Being poor in spirit gives us a declaration that our spirit is in need, having no fulfillment in anything that life has. It is believed by most scholars that this beatitude is the room which others grow from, if anything it centralizes them all. Also notice that being poor in this sense is not material, but spiritual. Being in poverty itself is not blessed, and in a clear view, being poor in spirit is reward in itself. Why? Because we are capable to depend and cry out to God for help, knowing full well he will come to our aid. There is joy knowing God is always ready to fill us with His spirit which we will inherit the Kingdom of heaven.
The second blessing is those who mourn. When we hurt, I think it’s the one thing we remember most. Pain seems to have a permanent marker on our lives that is very hard to rub away. Grief in itself is not being blessed. It takes something out of us when we mourn for someone or something we lost or experienced, even sin. We can actually grieve over sin we have done, then the scar it leaves behind is what pains us to reconcile and conviction should immediately follow. This too is mystical. The joy we find in mourning is knowing God will comfort us even amidst of our grieving. We can be confident knowing that being comforted is from Gods spirit who will move us from the dark places of pain, to the light of full joy. And it is my opinion, joy is sorrow that is accepted in Gods Love. We who find that joy find Gods secret door that barres the doors of pain and replaces it with Gods ultimate Love.
The third blessing is being meek. This is one beatitude that throughout the bible, only two people was labeled as being meek. Moses and Jesus. The Greek word here means good will toward men and reverent obedience toward God. Being meek gives the purpose of being harnessed or anchored in Gods will and obeying. Its not a weakness but great power under control. It implies the humility of acceptance of ones lowly position before God, by trusting in him. The great joy in being meek is to inherit the earth and all the blessings of Gods promises. Think about this, if being poor in spirit is opposite of proud in spirit, being meek is opposite of being aggressive. The meek are content in walking in the shadow of God.
The fourth blessing is those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Here we get a glimpse of someone having a great desire for God, that you literally want to eat or drink the words of God. I remember my grandmother who loved bluegrass music so much, she told me she wish she could just eat it up. That desire entails the full wanting to grow closer to God and fulfill every aspect of our lives. The joy is experiencing God giving us unspeakable joy that surpasses all understanding. Seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Our satisfactions will be filled.
The fifth blessing is to be merciful. Although having mercy seems easier for us to accept than the other beatitudes, it is a great measure of Love that is bestowed on those who need mercy, such as us. Without Gods mercy, we would not have salvation or even His Love. The joy of being merciful is you will obtain mercy and find true happiness in having mercy on others, as we received it from God. Just like if you are feeling low about yourself, go help others, and I guarantee you will find gratitude in a richer way. Mercy lays claim on us whenever and wherever there is suffering. It offers hope even to those that are alone, isolated and separated. Here a quote from Shakespeare lives truthful to merciful, “the quality of mercy is not straind, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.”
The sixth blessing is to be pure in heart. Knowing how people may think this beatitude is further from their reach than the others, this one gives us a bright star in our constellation. It is not easy for us, sinful people as we are, to measure correctly just how pure in heart we are in order to gain the joy promised. The joy in being pure is in heart, is that we will see God, the creator of all things, giver of life and salvation. I remember when I accept Christ as my savior, the Holy Spirit was in the room, I laid flat on the floor and could not look up. I could not even attempt to see God in the manner presented to me. Its possible seeing God may not be physical, but maybe to the point of seeing God in the world when others do not see Him. In scripture it tells us Satan blinds those of the world with sin. It comes to the point where mankind becomes blind when sin reigns in their life. The Godly people here have guileless motives, holy thoughts and a clean conscience. Being pure.
The seventh blessing is for peacemakers. In the translation it’s a verb meaning to join together. When you have opposing forces in life, the joy you find is in reconciliation. When Jesus tells us in John 14, “My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, ” not everyone can say they experienced it. When we see the word peace, we find fulfillment of the heart, and rightly so, as this becomes a cardinal Christian word. The world itself seeks peace, but as Jesus proclaimed, its not the same as God’s peace. The joy you find in being a peacemaker is genuinely satisfying knowing our efforts with God help others find God and help grow others together. Being peacemaker is not just giving, but finding the Godly pathway. Even an evangelist is a good example of peacemaker. They plead for man to turn to Christ. Making peace within their own soul to come to God. Showing there is always hope, no matter what. Peacemaker is a reward that God acknowledges oneness in spirit, to be in Christs likeness.
The eight blessing is those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. Being persecuted by itself is not righteous, it’s the motive behind it; for whom are we to be persecuted. As Christians that follow Christ, scripture tells us we will be persecuted, period. Theres no avoidance of it. We may not have the same level as others, but persecuted none the less. The joy we find in being persecuted, although not necessarily fun or easy, it is bestowed on those faithful who endure it that will be blessed as being identified as followers of Christ. What things we endure, God will provide strength for. What wickedness we encounter, Gods light will shine brightly even in utter darkness. Scripture tells us For so persecuted they the prophets which was before you. As the persecuted, we will have a stamp of courage knowing God is on our side, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” The prophets Elijah, Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah and many more are part of the noble company that their lives are not just in memory, but in eternal life, just as we will inherit. Our names God knows as being the children of the living God.
In finding joy friends, we need not look very far. Listen to the words of the Psalms. I will exalt You, Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my enemies rejoice over me. 2 Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. 3 Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. 4 Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, And praise the mention of His holiness. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
During the reign of King Richard, there was a man whom was scheduled to hang. While being in his cell, he seemed to smile and have a joyful spirit. When being led to the gallows, others talked and wondered how could he be so calm and collective knowing he was about to die. As he was led to the noose, and it was placed around his neck, his smile became bigger and bigger, while reaching in his pocket, he pulled out a paper, signed by King Richard that ordered a full pardon.
Just think friends, our joy on this earth should be just as elaborate. With Christ dieing for our sins, our faith, hope and trust fully in Him, we have every reason in the world to be joyful. When we have Christ, when our names are written in the Lambs book of life, we should have the joy knowing we are saved, forgiven, and everything we go through in this life is already conquered. We just need to trust Him, obey Him, and serve Him.
As we journey into our daily lives, let us remember that Joy is something we experience even among the most desperate circumstances. And did you know, Romans 8:28 tell us all things work together for good, for those who love him, and for those called according to his purpose. Basically nothing happens by accident for the Saints of God. Everything we encounter and experience is designed for Gods glory, even the most treacherous paths we take. So, rest easy, live long, and love always in the arms of our humorous and loving God. Amen.