What Happy Looks Like

Introduction

I want to begin this morning by talking to you about a person who’s been in the news this week. You probably did not hear about her. Her name is Patricia Smith. Patricia Smith made an average annual salary of $50,000 a year. However, on that salary, she was able to purchase $1.8 million worth of private jet travel. How many years of that annual salary would it take to come up with $1.8 billion for private jet travel? $715,000 for commercial airfare. $600,000 for lodging and cruises, etc. $52,000. This is an annual salary. $52,500 for club level tickets for the Super Bowl in Jerry Jones Scotty Arena. $32,500 for a six-person luncheon prepared by Food Network star, and I don’t know her name, Ina Garden, I guess is how you say it, at her barn in East Hampton, New York.

$11,100 for dinner with Kevin Spacey before his performance in Richard III. Why you would do that? I don’t know. $10,000 for this is the lower end of the scale of the stuff that she purchased. $10,000 for a Ralph Lauren showroom tour and suit. $5,600 for an autographed first American edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with signed book plates by J.K. Rowling. $5,000 for the Vatican package. And more than one trip there, which included mass in the papal audience with VIP seating, VIP tour of the Vatican Museum with a private tour guide, and a private tour of the Sistine Chapel, along with family before it was opened to the public. $2,500 for a Phantom of the Opera experience, including costume fitting, wig fitting, and escorted on stage during the Hannibal Opera sequence.

Purchases also included four homes, ten cars, expensive jewelry, and of course, for all the travels you must have Louis Vuitton luggage. How in the world on $50,000 a year could you afford all of that? In a relatively less than a decade short period of time. Answer. You embezzle.

She was recently convicted of systematically stealing an average of $4,000 a day over a period of seven years. She told her family and friends that she got rich by investing in airline stocks. But she had obtained the fortune by making roughly 800 transfers from the dealership’s coffers to her own personal bank accounts with dummy inventory that she invented to cover her tracks. The 58-year-old woman, Patricia, is now about to begin serving a 78-month sentence in jail. Seems like she should have gotten longer. I don’t know. And she’s going to have to pay restitution. Good luck with that. And three years of probation. But here’s what I found interesting as to the why of all of this. She was interviewed by a reporter for a Pittsburgh affiliate, where’s heaven we need him, who reported on this story, and she said the reason she did this was that she felt like she had been a horrible daughter and wife and mother and friend, and she thought that she could earn their love in these relationships, that she could earn their love by giving them all of these things and doing all of these things with them.

And she told the reporter, I just wanted to see what happiness looks like. I wonder what happiness is going to look like in her new jail cell with all of her new companions. But what I found interesting too in all of this is the fact of the trip to the Vatican and her obvious religious leanings. And yet, what about what the scriptures say in Romans chapter 13 and verse 1? Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. She had not done that. And thus she is paying the price as one who embezzled from her employer. I think of passages like Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 28. When the Christian is admonished, let him who steals, steal no longer, but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.

Don’t think she was really concerned with sharing her embezzled funds with him who has need. This isn’t a Robin Hood kind of thing. I mean, she was going to spend this on herself and her friends and her family that she was trying to buy their affection. Not to mention, as I think about the religious leanings and the inconsistency, Colossians chapter 3, verses 5 and 6, we as believers are admonished to consider the members of our earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. That’s probably the first passage that I thought of in terms of what Patricia Smith has done. The greed, the covetousness which amounts to idolatry, and on account of these things, Paul says in verse 6, the wrath of God will come.

There is a lesson to be gained here about living consistently with what we claim and profess to be. As a Christian. There’s another thought in all this that really I wanted to explore with you this morning. And while we shake our heads in amazement at what Patricia Smith has done, I wonder, are we not tempted at times to buy into the thinking that our lives would be a little bit better if we had more money? And if we could just go and do and frolic at will, that life would be happier. That’s really what she bought into. And I think sometimes we’re tempted to buy into that. If I just had just a little bit bigger slice of the pie. Now, in $50,000, okay, that’s not going to afford a whole lot in our culture.

So she needed a lot bigger slice of the pie to the tune of 10 million that she embezzled. And so we think if I just had a little bit more money, things would be better. My life would be richer. Well, is that necessarily the case? She wanted to see what happiness looks like. I want to talk to you about this morning, what happy looks like. And I’m talking to you talking to you today about richer lives, but not the same kind of life that Patricia Smith was trying to purchase with someone else’s funds. So perhaps not the richer that presently draws us its direction, but the richer that the Bible describes. And what is such a life? I think a lot of folks are confused, don’t really know the answer.

What is happiness really? And when I talk about the subject, I’m not talking about some kind of fleeting momentary kind of thing. I’m indeed talking about a happy life. The best life, the richest and most rewarding life. I want you to have that. Don’t you want me to have it too? Don’t you want a happy life? What is it exact? How would you define it? How am I going to acquire it? And it doesn’t have anything to do necessarily with the acquiring of things, as Patricia Smith thought.

1. The Ideal State: This Is What Happy Is

The Hebrew word is Esher. The Greek word is markarios. And they describe the ideal state. There’s not anything better than Esher. There’s not anything better in the New Testament than Macarios. This is as good as it gets. It’s the ideal state. This is what happy is. Sometimes this word is even translated happy, as we shall see in a moment. And so whatever this word is talking about, we can pay attention to if we really want to know what happy looks like. Now you probably know another word that is used to translate Escher in the Old Testament and Marcarios in the New Testament. It is the word was.

Proverbs 29 and verse 18, the wisdom of this passage says to us, and I’ll quote the King James because I grew up on it. Where there is no vision, the people perish. The New American Standard says, where there is no vision, the people are restrained. But Esher, but happy is he who keeps the law. Esher is related to keeping the law. Now, let me tell you about the first part of that verse. Where there is no vision, the people perish. I’ve heard this quoted a lot of times to say that we need to be people of vision, people that can look down the road, and elders especially of local churches need to be men of vision. They need to see where a church is going and make plans for its future.

And where there’s no vision, and sometimes it’s applied to politics. Where there’s no vision, the people perish. And so we need to have visionaries in office. Problem is that’s not what vision is refers to. It’s not talking about our perceptions and judgments here. And please get this because it drives me crazy. Where there is no vision, it’s not talking about our ability to see ahead. It’s talking about revelation from God, as in a vision from God, as in God’s instruction to us. And where there is no revelation, the people are unrestraint. See, they have no guidelines for living, or they perish because the way of man is not in himself. When we start following ourselves, we lead to ruin. And so where there is no vision, the people perish.

It’s revelation. Write that down, please. Where there is no vision, the people perish. But in this contrast, in this figure of speech that is so found in Psalms of Proverbs, we have a contrast. In contrast to perishing, he says, but happy is he who keeps the law. Here’s an interesting verse in Job 5. I mentioned this with some pause, because these are not the words of Job. You’d realize in the book of Job that sometimes Job is speaking, but sometimes his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are speaking. And at the end of the book, Job has to offer sacrifices in prayer for them. Because God does not approve of them. And so everything that they say is not absolutely correct. But I would say that in a lot of their speeches, what they say is true, it’s just their thoughts of Job are inaccurate.

And how these words apply to Job. But here’s a statement that I do believe is consistent with other teaching of the New Testament. When Eliphaz says, Behold, and this is the word Escher again, how happy is the man whom God reproves. So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. That’s always saying, Job, you’re suffering because God’s reproving you, which is not really the case. It’s Satan that’s inflicting this upon Job, testing his integrity. But that’s Elipha’s assessment of Job’s condition, that God is reproving you, and that’s great. When God reproves, that’s a good thing. That’s correct. In fact, the righteous person, the one who keeps the law, is one of God’s children, or one of God’s sons, and the son that God loves, he chastens.

Hebrews chapter 12, verses 5 to 11. And so I believe Job 5.17 is consistent with New Testament teaching, even though it’s the words of Eliphaz. Now, again, we might not, in our first thought, and without vision, without revelation, come to the conclusion, okay, God’s chastening me, this is really good. This is the best life. This is a happy life. Hold that in all.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the council of the ungodly, nor stand in the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of the smorning hole, but his delight in the law of the Lord. And in his law he meditates day and night. Very familiar text. Here’s the blessed life. Here’s the happy life. Blessed is the person whose sins are forgiven. And so what we’re learning is, and I’ll go ahead and give you Psalm 34 before I tell you what we’re learning. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. So, what we’ve learned already just in the Old Testament is that by God’s instruction and listening to it and receiving his blessings and benefits by having done so, we live the blessed life.

2. Blessed in the New Testament

This is happy. This is what happiness looks like according to God’s visions, his revelation. And we get to the New Testament. That’s what Jesus is describing when he says, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who are gentle. They inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. For they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. And here we’re given some inklings as to how we’re to look at things, hold this thought. Because, okay, this is the blessed state. Humility, poverty of spirit. What do they get? What’s the result? Citizenship of the kingdom. The pure in heart. Difficult to obtain.

Hard work required. They shall see God. Heaven is theirs. Even though they are insulted and persecuted, verses 10 through 12, they’re blessed. Blessed are you when men cast insults. Great is your reward in heaven. Okay, hold those thoughts. We’re coming back to that. And then the familiar text, Jesus, the rare red letters beyond the book of John. Paul quotes Jesus. It is more what? Blessed. The ideal say it is more blessed to give than to receive. Hmm. Hold on right there. Patricia. She didn’t see that. She was all about the receiving. Blessed are those who die in the Lord, for they shall have rest from all their labors and their works do follow them. Now, what we’ve already seen, and this is important. This ideal state involves affliction and chastening and self-discipline.

I’ll just tell you, a lot of folks would say, what kind of roadmap is this? What are you talking about? The happy life is all of this. These are qualities that most people don’t equate with happy. And we struggle with it too. Are you convinced?

3. Why the Path of Sin Is Not a Good Idea

So are you buying or not buying? I say a lot about this word perspective, because that’s really what it all boils down to. How you see things, how you value things, what is true, and what you hold dear. Having said that, let me tell you why the path of sin is not a good idea. Obviously, that’s not the happy life. That’s not the happy life we’ve seen described in the passages in both the Old and New Testament where it talks about the ideal state. And so let’s talk about the path that’s opposite of that. Why is that not a good idea? Let me tell you, the rewards, they’re all temporary. When you reject the ideal for the happy that the world thinks, I will tell you, Patricia Smith had the time of her life.

She did things that perhaps some of us have only dreamed of doing. I don’t know why you want to go to the Vatican. It makes me nauseous, but that’s something she really wanted to do. That was high on her list of priorities. Hey, a private charter jet, limousines.

VIP this, V I P that. That’s the lie. She lived it up, but I’ll tell you, she’s done. I’ll tell you about the lifestyle she lived. She’s done. She ain’t never going to do that again. Unless she gets out in the desert again. But even if she does, she’s done. When you reject God’s way of life, the blessed and the happy that God’s word describes. All your rewards are temporary. And I’ll tell you what else you’ll find is that selfishness is unsatisfied. It works only in the moment, but not beyond it. And yet the devil wants us to buy me that. I need to be more selfish, more focused on me. You hear that all the time. People in the media, the lines, the lifestyles of the rich and famous, the glamorous.

I just got to focus on me. This is what makes me happy. It’s all about me. And a lot of them don’t seem to be living very fulfilling lives at times. Relationships and ruin.

And when you reject that, you have chosen the opposite of that. You’ve chosen unwise. Do not be unwise, but wise. Making the most of your time because the days are evil. Paul says in Ephesians chapter 5, verses 15 through 17. And I would say further, the path of sin is not a good idea because living without God is hopeless and an unenviable place.

4. Doing Right Is Not a Future-Only Proposition

Are you buying in? Let me tell you this too. When you choose the ideal state and understand because of a right perspective, what happy really looks like, listen. Don’t think this either. Doing right is only a future-only proposition. I think we think sometimes, well, you’ve got to suffer all the time now. He mentioned that affliction and chastening, you know. So it’s all about suffering now. The reward is all future. Certainly, the ultimate benefits will be received by those who have waited patiently. And most of the passages that speak of the quality of patience have to do with bearing up under less than ideal circumstances and not jettisoning faith as the devil offers his paltry and inferior trinkets in the now. But the scriptures speak of the fact that as believers, as those who are embracing God’s will, that we taste now.

We have tasted of the heavenly gift. Paul says in Hebrews chapter six. In fact, he mentions several things there that believers have tasted. Now, that’s not the full meal. Hebrews chapter 6. The case of those who have been enlightened have tasted of the heavenly gift. They’ve been made partakers of the Holy Spirit. They’ve tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come. And then he warns about those who would fall away. However, sometimes we’re just not content with the taste. When Sherry and I talk about dieting, I say it’s not possible for us because people want us to go out and eat with them. And you can’t diet going out to eat. And she goes, Oh, yes, you can. There are things on the menu that you can order that are not full of calories.

You can do this. So I’m like, now how am I going to sit at a Mexican food restaurant and just eat three chips? Seriously?

If I’m going to diet, I can’t go in to that place. A taste is not enough. And you folks know that have been with me. When I start doing that chips and red sauce, I’m going after bowl after bowl of that stuff. You know, I can’t do just a little bit of that. And that’s like temptation. I was going to pull this in another sermon, but I’ll throw it in now. With every temptation, there’s a way of escape. Well, you can’t be sitting there with the red sauce right in front of you. Okay, there’s a way of escape here. No, the way of escape is before you ever get into the restaurant. You don’t go in. Sometimes we get ourselves in an awful fix with temptation in a place where it’s practically impossible to say no.

And there was a where was the way of escape? Well, it was way back here. But getting back to this point. Sometimes we’re not content with a taste of it now. And the problem is that we grow, we grow impatient for the ultimate that God promises us. And because we grow impatient, the devil’s always. I can give you something a little now. I can give you something a little now. And we go, okay, yeah. That’s a welcome relief to self-discipline. And the affliction and trouble and sometimes persecution that goes to being a Christian. And so the devil’s offer me a quick fix to the problem. Now, it’s temporary. There are consequences, all kinds of consequences that go with that. But we grow impatient, and that’s why those passages are saying, remember the patience of Job.

5. What Is the Happy Life of the Christian

I realize that he ultimately got a payoff in this life. He got more daughters, and nobody is as fair as the daughters of Job, and his fortunes were restored. And that’s not saying that everything’s going to turn rosy for us ultimately in this life. Doesn’t seem that ever happened to Lazarus in the story of a rich man Lazarus that Jesus told in Luke 16. But what it is saying is if you endure patiently, the outcome of things ultimately will be worth it. So now what is the happy life of the Christian? All that. I want to give you a few things briefly, and we’ll be done. Number one, it’s a right relationship with your creed. Him who was able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.

I don’t know why. The classic country song of Lynn Anderson popped into my mind. I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there’s a little, there’s got to be a little rain sometimes. I could sing you a tune or promise you the moon. But if that’s what it takes to hold you, I’d just as soon let you go. Now, obviously, young people, she’s talking about a relationship here with a person. But I like what she goes on to say here. You better look before you leave. Still waters run deep, and there won’t always be someone there to pull you out. And you know what I’m talking about. So smile for a while and let’s be jolly. Love shouldn’t be so melancholy.

Come along and share the good times while we can. There’s some powerful stuff about marriage in that state. Change your perspective. You have it better than you think. Work it out. Stay with me. Yeah, there’s a little rain sometimes. But if you’re going to get out of this thing, you better be careful where you leak. There’s a lot of bad places you can go. Interesting thought there. But that’s true of us as well. In our relationship to God. Look where you leap. Still waters run deep. You may find yourself in a place that is not as good as you thought it was going to be. And if you leave God, I guarantee you it’ll not be as good as you thought it was going to be.

I’ll tell you what else accompanies the happy life. You see, it is the promise of immortality. Living forever. The ideal existence is coming, but only for God’s people. I love this word in the New Testament. Every passage that mentions immortality, I love it. God has brought immortality to life through the gospel. It’s not just living forever, it’s living perfectly forever. That’s the promise of the gospel. We’ve got to have that perspective I talked about. Yeah, there’s some selflessness involved, but it’s an exalted way of life. The great wisdom that escapes our culture is the reward of giving of ourselves in the service to the Lord. To know the joy of selflessness. Some of you know that joy. Hopefully, all of you. The joy of denying yourself for the sake of others.

First and foremost for God. But just the total denial of self. What you learn by the practice of that is it’s rewarding. Even now. It’s not just a future-only proposition. And then there’s this. What kind of value or price tag you want to put on this? And the peace of God that surpasses all comprehension. Shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. What is that?

It’s a calm in our minds. It’s an assurance that says, I’m right with God. I know His will for me. I know why I’m on this planet. I know why I’m living.

I know who made me and why I’m here. I know how to live as my creator intended for me to live. I know where I’m going. And I know how to get ready. And I know that if I were to suddenly exit this world, and I surely am going to someday, I know what lies beyond. And one final thing. Yes, association with the redeemed. Warts and all.

But our souls have been purified in obedience to the truth unto an unfeigned love of the brethren. I love God’s people.

Chris Emerson sent me a little video of a pastor who began his message by saying, I love my church family. He said, I absolutely love 90% of my church. And he says, He goes, well, you know what I mean. I mean, he’s like, what part of the body are you? An appendix? He says. What do you actually do? Because I know you can blow up and kill us, but what do you do? And this same person who will say, everyone at work hates me because I’m a Christian. He goes, Are you sure it’s because you’re a Christian?

Well, maybe our experience is a little bit different here at Decker Prayer. And yes, we perhaps may disappoint one another from time to time, but this is as good as it gets. These are the people of God. And what a blessed association it is. So I’ll tell you this morning what happy looks like. It’s right here. This is the blessed life. And don’t let the devil convince you otherwise.

Conclusion

This happens every year. Not as much last year, because I was speaking and there was a lot of stress associated with that for me. But when you’re sitting in the audience and enjoying that singing among 600 people, or perhaps it’s like the camp experience or the camp experience this weekend that was had out at the Olympics. But when you’re with a large group of people and singing songs of praise and hearing the word of God presented in truth. Sometimes I sit there and it seems almost unreal, and yet I’m telling myself, this is right. This is right. This is what God wants. And I know it. Because I know it’s what the Bible teaches. And what benefit, what price tag can you put on that? What is happy look like to you?

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Have you done that? Have you chosen to put on Christ?

Years ago I was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of my sins, and I knew that’s what the Lord wanted me to do to become his child. And my thoughts have not wavered about that over the years. That’s what the Bible says. A person must do to be saved. And you can have that assurance. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. Can we assist you in finding what happy really looks like? We stand and sing to encourage your response. God.