Happiness Can Be Elusive
Sometimes, we don’t’ know what we need, especially if we listen to the flesh. Some think they need happiness, and yet when they chase it, they find themselves feeling empty. Happiness is elusive when it becomes the goal in life. It actually is a byproduct; not the main thing. Not understanding the definition of happiness increases the chances of it slipping through one’s fingers. On the other hand, when individuals grasp its meaning, they will find it more apt to come their way. Thus, removing the “need” to chase it.
What is Happiness?
Let’s examine the definition happiness from two different perspectives. One will be the world’s view of this elusive creature, and the other will be biblical. It may bring some of you to a crossroads where you decide which worldview to embrace. In turn, your decision will orient your aim.
One meaning of happiness means good fortune: prosperity. Another is a state of well-being and contentment. In addition, pleasurable satisfaction. If you like, the state of being happy. So, what does the word, happy mean?
Feeling or showing pleasure and contentment. Having a sense of confidence in or satisfaction with a person, arrangement, or situation (happy about). To be happy with is to be satisfied with the quality or standard. Another meaning attached to this word is luck or fortune (fortunate). Sometimes it can be characterized by an irresponsible state, which includes impulsiveness, or obsessively quick to use something (trigger-happy).
Here are some other words or phrases one might use in its place: cheerful, merry, jovial, gleeful, exuberant, blissful, cloud nine, over the moon, walking on the moon, and of course, on top of the world.
One major component attached to happiness is it relies much on exterior circumstances. Maintaining a constant state of happiness may prove difficult, considering our circumstances constantly change. If a person is seldom content with life, he will seldom experience happiness.
Psalm 144:15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
As we define happiness from a biblical point of view, we’ll discover it is a much more sustainable state than that of which the world offers. One clue is that the word, happy, is interchangeable with blessed. In this case, this verse could be rendered as, Blessed is that people. . .
Here’s where it begins to get interesting. In the Hebrew (Old Testament language), Happy (835 Strong’s Concordance) is an adjective that is interchangeable with blessed, and is derived from the noun, happiness (833).
Happiness (833) means to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy). Figuratively, to go forward, be honest, prosper. The way this word is rendered in Scripture is “bless”; “blessed”; “be blessed”; “called blessed”; “happy,” as well as “go”; “guide”; “lead,” and “relieve.”
The byproduct of God being our Lord is happiness. If a person chases happiness, or seeks to be blessed, he may miss God in the process. A life without God is truly empty!
1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached (reviled) for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part, He is glorified.
How many would think being persecuted for the name of Christ would make one happy? Yet, here we find it to be a consequence of persecution for His sake. Go figure! One might say it sounds counterintuitive. Rest easy, persecution is not the sole requirement of being blessed or happy. Nonetheless, we can take comfort in this truth.
Just as it is in Hebrew, happy and blessed are used interchangeably in the Greek (New Testament language). Before looking at the definition of the word, let’s look at another example found in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-7:29).
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.
Happy (3071) comes from a word that means to be supremely blessed. By extension it means fortunate, or well off. It is rendered as “blessed,” “happy,” or “happier.” However, it goes deeper. It means possessing the favor of God. It is a state of being marked by fullness from God.
The distinction between worldly and biblical happiness is the former relies on exterior circumstances, personal performance, and earthly things. It is attached to the things of the world: the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life (see 1 John 2:15-17). Whereas, the latter is dependent on our relationship with God, and obedience to Him. It has nothing to do with earthly possessions, or performance. That means satisfaction comes from God, and not from favorable circumstances!
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
To be spiritual is to be happy. To be carnal is to be empty. The happiest people on the planet are those whose God is their Father, Jesus is their Lord, and have Holy Spirit living in them. Who delight themselves in Him, serve Him; and thus, live a life of service. These experience fulfillment on the highest level.
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
