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You can be happy, no matter what you state in life is- married, single, widowed, separated or divorced etc. Because, happiness is a choice you make in life! It isn't a decision somebody else makes or can make for you. Happiness is not a function of what somebody does or doesn't do for you, it is what you do for yourself. First and foremost, we must understand that there is a difference between godly happiness and worldly happiness. In the world, you are happy when everything is going your way; everyone doing what you want; you having all you want, doing all you want, e.t.c. And if you can't have it your way, you are not happy. The theme of worldly happiness is you; the focus is you- the 'world' must revolve around you if you are to be happy. In God's kingdom, it's a different ballgame all together. According to God's Word, another word for being happy is, to be 'blessed'. To be 'blessed' means, to be happy; to be prosperous, etc. Happiness is contentment and satisfaction. To know how to be happy in life, no matter your circumstances, you must, therefore, know what godly happiness is and what it isn’t about. #1. Happiness is a function of your internal condition and not your external condition. It is a function of your attitude- your attitude determines your altitude in life, that is, how far you will go. The Beatitudes Jesus taught about in the book of Matthew, chapters 5-7 all speak about the kind of internal conditions that qualify us for being blessed or happy. E.g. Matt.5:3, “Blessed- happy, to be envied and spiritually prosperous (that is with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions)- are the poor in spirit (the humble, rating themselves insignificant)”- AMP. The Bible says we should let the same mind that was in Christ be in us; who made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a bondservant, became human, humbled Himself and became obedient to the shameful death on the cross. (Phil.2:5-8). Wherefore, God exalted Him to the highest position and gave Him the name which is above all names! #2. Happiness is a function of living by the Word of God and not by worldly or human opinion or standards. Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly……..But his delight is in the law of the LORD……..He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…” The Moffat translation says, “Happy is the man who never goes by the advice of the ungodly”. We must, however, take note that a christian isn’t necessarily godly nor necessarily gives godly counsel, if not, Paul wouldn’t admonish christians to exercise themselves toward godliness. (1Tim.4:7). The question is what the counsel is based on; is it in the word or not? Jesus likened those who hear His words but don't do them, to the foolish builder who built his house on the sand. He built a house quite all right but not on the rock; he built on sand- representing human and fleshly opinions and standards. Jesus said, great was the fall of that house when the storms come! It will take the storms of life to reveal what we and our lives are made of and built upon. Psalm 127:1 says, “Except the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it;” Note that the Bible didn’t say they didn’t build, but it says their labor is in vain. How painful it is to find out at the end of the day that one’s labor had only been in vain! But that is what is bound to happen if one doesn’t build by the word. There is a way that seems right to man but the end of it is destruction- note, it’s the end of it not the start of it. Yet people have built marriages, families, ministries and even lives, on every other thing but the word. This is because it is easier to build on sand than on the rock. Did you notice that the man that built on the rock had to dig deep to get to the rock. Sand is superficial and the human nature loves superficiality. Sand is commonly found around and our nature likes to commonise; the opposite of ‘Holy’ is’ common’. You don’t need much effort to build on sand and the human nature doesn’t enjoy hardwork. # 3. Happiness is agreeing with God and submitting to His plan and purpose for your life; being in total surrender to Him and His will. It is not struggling with God but yielding to Him. E.g. Mary, the mother of Jesus. She said to the angel, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Lk.1:38). Mary submitted to God’s plan for her life, even at the risk of her marriage to Joseph and even her own life- she could have been stoned according to the law of Moses for being found pregnant without being married! That level of submission she demonstrated brought her into a state of blessedness or ‘happiness’. Elizabeth said to Mary, “Blessed are you among women…” and “Blessed (Happy, to be envied) is she who believed for there will be a fulfilment of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” (See Lk.1:42,45,48). The secret to happiness in life is found in saying ‘Yes’ to God. The Bible says He is the Porter and we are the clay; woe is he that struggles with his maker- it can only lead to a lifetime of pain and frustration. Joseph was another example in the Bible; he went from being thrown into the pit to being sold as a slave first of all to the Midianites and then to Portiphar, from where he was thrown into the prison unjustly; yet the Bible keeps saying, God was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man. Joseph yielded completely to God’s plan for his life, he never complained. He understood at some point that God’s master plan was to send him ahead into Egypt so as to save the posterity of Israel. Beloved, God’s plan is bigger than us or our comfort or preferences. Esther, when she understood this, took her life in her hands and said, “And so I will go to the king which is against the law: and if I perish, I perish!” Remain Blessed.  Rev. Funke Ewuosho ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is an excerpt from the message HOW TO BE HAPPY THOUGH MARRIED or HOW TO BE HAPPY IN LIFE by Rev.(Mrs) Funke Ewuosho. For the complete message on Cassettes, CDs and DVDs, you can order from our nearest office or visit our website on http://www.wisdomestore.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Author Rev. Funke Ewuosho on 29th July, 2008. 04:37
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