Are You Happy?

We're getting into a little study of Proverbs in our biweekly ladies Bible study. One helpful point in reading proverbs that we discussed last week is that these are wise sayings, not promises.  As Dan Phillips puts it:

"Proverbs are wonderfully successful at being what the are: proverbs.  They are not failed prophecies or systematic theologies.  Proverbs by design lays out pointed observations, meant to be memorized and pondered, not always intended to be applied "across the board" to every situation without qualification."  -Dan Phillips, God's Wisdom in Proverbs p.21

With that in mind, I'd like to point you to this helpful little post I read this morning (HT: Girltalk).  In it, Nancy Wilson ponders some proverbial wisdom that speaks to the issue of happiness.  These are great places to start examining your heart if you find yourself being a little less happy than you'd like.  These aren't guarantees, but may be truths we can apply in our various circumstances.  Wilson lists scripture then offers some reflections:

1. Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he (Prov. 16:20). If we are unhappy, it could be we are worrying  rather than trusting our good God. 

2. He who has mercy on the poor, happy is he (Prov. 14.21). Try this next time you are feeling unhappy: reach out and show mercy to those less fortunate than you. 

3. Happy is the man who is always reverent (Prov. 28:14). Have you been honoring, showing respect to, reverencing, fearing the Lord? 

4. Happy is he who keeps the law (Prov. 29:18). Oh, ouch. Have you been cutting corners? Telling little lies? Indulging in a little gossip? Not putting things all the way right? That will eat away at your happiness for years to come. Make it right. 

5. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God (Psalm 146:5). Consider who it is you have the privilege to call your Father. Hope in Him. Be happy in His help.

6. Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord! (Ps. 144:15). This psalm describes what a blessed culture looks like. When we have a Christian community, we have much to rejoice in. We know who we are. We are not confused or lost. We are God’s people, and that should make us happy. 

7. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified (1 Peter 4:14). This means when you get flack from co-workers, family members, or even strangers at the grocery store for being a Christian, you should realize this is the sign of God’s blessing. This includes those rude comments about your (more than two) children. Remember in such times that the spirit of God and glory is resting on you. That should make you happy. 

8. Finally, we should remember that happiness is a great benefit to us and a means of glorifying God. He is the source of all happiness, and we return thanks to Him. Happiness is joy, blessedness, and contentment, and these things should characterize our lives.