Message Through Word
Title: To Be Really Happy, Be Holy
Bible Verse: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
1 I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless.
2 "Laughter," I said, "is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?"
3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man's heart.
9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Introduction:
Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing
Money can't buy happiness
Everyone is looking for happiness, and people follow many ways to find it. But the truth is, happiness is not just found in pursuing it. Happiness is a gift from God.
From the perspective of the Beatitudes or Series of Blessings, happiness is the by-product of the right choices brought by Godly wisdom, and these things please the Lord.
Based on the story of King Solomon, What should we do to be Really H-A-P-P-Y?
I. H is Help
We will have a happy life not by what we get but by what we give.
Acts 20:35 (It is more blessed to give than to receive)
35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
2 Chronicles 7:1 (King Solomon was a giver)
1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
Those who think they should always be helped will never be happy.
Proverbs 11:24-25 (God's principle to get out of poverty)
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
There is always a word sacrifice in giving!
There will be no joy to those who loves to waste.
II. A is for Appreciating
Happiness is not having what you want but wanting what you have
Luke 12:15 (For there is a thin line between need and greed)
15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."
1 Timothy 6:8 (Contentment will cause us real happiness)
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Solomon falls into becoming a greedy king (1 kings 11:1-4)
1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.
2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.
3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.
4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
Greed is the root of evil.
III. P for Prefer not to sin
A person who has never been bothered by his conscience is so blessed
Psalms 32:3-4 (David testified how his conscience tortured him)
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
2 Chronicles 6 (Solomon asked God to forgive the people when he sinned. But God says He will forgive on 4 conditions)
1. Humble yourself by admitting sin
2. Pray, asking for God's forgiveness
3. Seek God
4. Turn away from sin
verse 5 (confession of sin is a commendable or praiseworthy decision)
It's hard to shake off the pangs of conscience
IV. P for Pursue holy living
How can you be happy if you will be punished for your sins?
Hebrews 12:11 (enduring God's discipline is not enjoyable)
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Solomon's Consequences:
1. God punished Solomon for worshipping other gods
2. God's wrath was given to Solomon
3. God lear Solomon's kingdom
4. God gave Solomon one tribe for the sake of his father David
5. Israel as a nation was break into two parts: Israel and Judah
No one smiles but grimaces while being punished
When we choose to pursue holiness our lives are more truly blessed happy, content and filled We are not seeking happiness in what the world defines as happiness
Pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14) God desires us to pursue holiness at all cost because without holiness we cannot see the Lord. Make no mistake about it the world that we live in is an unholy world True Happiness can be achieved by knowing and obeying God's word in our hearts.
Romans 6:6 Living a holy life of obedience to God is living in truth with freedom from the bondage of sin
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
"Avoid SIN so as not to be completely DAMNED."
V. Y for Yield to God
You will be a happy person if the presence of God is in you
Ecclesiastes 1
Psalm 37:4 (Your DECISION to be DELIGHTED in Him is the key to happiness) Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desire of your heart
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
What you sow is what you reap
"There is ETERNAL happiness when Jesus is found."
Conclusion:
Luke 9:25
25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?
Colossians 3:15 (Be SATISFIED with Jesus Christ)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace And be thankful.
God created us for happiness, and the only way we will find new happiness in this world is to seek Holy Happiness, the happiness that comes from leaning steadfastly into our God who loves us and wants what is best for us in all seasons of our life".