Learn with us what happiness represents in the Bible , which is being happy in the Lord. Also, learn what we must do to achieve that joy and live according to God's will.
happiness in the bible
The generic concept of happiness found in dictionaries defines it as: A state of satisfaction or complacency, in which the person who enjoys it experiences well-being with himself and with the other people around him.
For its part, the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy defines happiness as: State of pleasant spiritual and physical satisfaction. As well as an absence of inconveniences or setbacks.
Happiness for a person who lives a Christian life wrapped in asceticism and, therefore, devoted to the exercise of spiritual development and growth; experience two types or degrees of happiness. One, the one who lives in the present feeling calm in his conscience, pleased with his actions and deeds.
And the other is the joy that he experiences while waiting for the ultimate and eternal happiness promised by God to everyone who obeys him. Therefore, every believer lives the present life in happiness, remaining in the hope of the afterlife, even when living it in tribulation, difficulties or adversities, as the experience of the apostle Paul tells us:
Philippians 4:12 (PDT) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I know the secret of being content in any and every situation , whether hungry or well fed, whether living in plenty or in want.
The Secret is to remain in Christ and communion with God, through constant prayer, giving thanks to God at all times and for everything.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (PDT): 17 Never stop praying. 18 Always give thanks to God, for that is what he wants for you in Jesus Christ.
Wanting to be happy is natural in every Christian, but many times we are wrong in defining it, happiness in the Bible is the blessedness of having God's blessing.
Happiness in the Bible is the blessedness of God
For the world, happiness as described in the Bible could represent a contradiction or inconsistency. For, if any worldly or pagan person were to be asked, what do they need to be happy? Surely your answer would be everything related to wealth, material possessions, professional achievements or success in love with your partner.
But if happiness were all that, then not all of us could be happy. And it is even known of many people who enjoy great fortunes, are successful in their businesses, surrounded by family and with all this they cannot claim to be happy.
There are also people who are less greedy in terms of happiness, who might respond that to be happy it is enough for them to have and enjoy their family. But what would happen to this state of happiness in a situation of illness, scarcity, conflict, etc.?
Surely such a person would say: How can I be happy if pain and despair invade my life right now? A Christian would respond to that person: yes you can, if you let the fullness of God's beatitude embrace you to accompany you and strengthen you at all times.
Reach the bliss of God
Many people have the false belief that God is a severe and punishing judge. But far from this being true, although God fulfills the role of his judge, he does so to correct and discipline.
However, his discipline will always be done in the immense love he has for all his creation. The greatest proof of this great love is having given his Son Jesus Christ to die for us, cleansing us from all sin so that he can later rise in glory.
The happiness of God is that people seek him from the heart, that they long to stop being his creatures to become his children through faith in Christ Jesus. Once we are children, leading a life of obedience and holiness, God guarantees us in his Kingdom all kinds of spiritual blessings.
The Lord Jesus Christ revealed to us the Beatitudes, which are what truly matter to God for our happiness (Matthew 5 and Luke 6). Learn more about this topic here: The Sermon on the Mount : What You Didn't Know About the Beatitudes.
The sermon on the mount that contains the beatitudes of God, is considered the Constitution, the norms or laws that govern the life of a Christian. So every Christian should know about this message and apply it to his life, in addition to knowing what God's happiness in the Bible consists of:
Give everything to have everything following Jesus
God rewards children who give everything, be it time, family, efforts, etc. to follow Jesus Christ and put him as a priority in his life. Let us therefore aspire to accumulate treasures in heaven and be happy in the present life:
Mark 10:21 (TLA): Jesus looked at him with love and said, “You still need to do one thing. Go, sell everything you own and give the money to the poor. Then you will receive a great reward in heaven . After that, come and become one of my followers.”
Luke 17:33 (NBV): Whoever tries to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.
Mark 10:29-30 (DHH): 29 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions— and in the age to come, eternal life.”
yearn for eternal life
In Jesus Christ we can have fullness, constituted in eternal life which we begin to enjoy in the present life. To reach this fullness we must only believe and be obedient to God:
John 3:36 (NLT): Those who believe in the Son of God have eternal life. Those who do not obey the Son will never have eternal life, but remain under the wrath of God's judgment.
John 5:24 (NIV): -I assure you that everyone who pays attention to what I say, and believes in God, who was the one who sent me, will have eternal life. Although he previously lived away from God, he will no longer be condemned, for he will have received eternal life.
In this regard, we invite you to read the article: Verses of Eternal Life and Salvation in Christ Jesus. The Bible contains many verses that speak of eternal life.
All these words contain the main promise of God, which is salvation through his Son Jesus Christ. That is why it is convenient that you know them and you can meditate on them.
Being imitators of Jesus
The Lord Jesus Christ during his walk on earth gave us the example of what happiness is serving others. Let us diligently seek to be imitators of Jesus in order to be happy:
John 13:15-17 (NBLA): 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you . 16 Truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Happiness in the Bible: Can we be happy without God?
The sacred scriptures tell us how blessed or happy is he who places his trust in God. Those who do not turn their eyes to things, people or moments to place them in their hearts as idols, in order to feel happy.
Psalm 40:4 (DHH): Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord , who does not seek after the insolent, nor those who worship false gods!
The Bible tells us that there can be many gods and forms of idolatry. But, it also teaches us that nothing can guarantee happiness, more than the one true God our Lord.
Psalm 144:15 (DHH): Happy is the nation that possesses all this! Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord!
Happiness in the Bible then, is expressed in the relationship that the person has with God. Through faith in Christ Jesus and persevering in obeying God's commandments.
Fulfilling all this in the person, it makes him accept and deserving of the blessings that God gives to all his children. God's blessings represent true and full happiness.
Although we are aware that there are people who enjoy the pleasures of life, but this is a temporary and ephemeral happiness. Since these pleasures can only momentarily satisfy some physical or emotional needs and do not guarantee full happiness.
But today we give the good news that there is a good and just God capable of giving to each person, according to their merits, according to their riches in glory so that they lack nothing:
Philippians 4:19 (TLA): Therefore, out of his wonderful riches my God will give you everything you need through Jesus Christ.
How can we experience happiness with God?
The Bible teaches us how we can experience the happiness that comes from God. What also serves if practiced diligently, to be better people in Christ Jesus:
experiencing forgiveness
A heart hardened by the burden of sin cannot be happy. Since the guilt of sin becomes like a heavy burden on our shoulders, so that to be happy we need God's forgiveness and be cleansed from all sin with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Psalms 32:1-2 (DHH): 1 Happy the man whose faults and sins have been completely forgiven. 2 Happy the man who has no evil intentions and whom the Lord does not accuse of any fault.
The happiness of the one who seeks to cleanse his heart is the certainty that by doing so he will be able to see God:
Matthew 5:8 (NIV): God blesses those who have a pure heart, for they will see God.
Experiencing trust in God
A happy life begins when we learn to trust God, from there we begin to see the world in a different way. With faith in God we have the certainty that everything that happens is for our good, because He loves us and wants our good:
Romans 8:28 (NIV): We know that God works all things for the good of those who love him, whom he has called according to his purpose.
Psalms 2:12 (RSV): Surrender at the feet of his Son, lest he be angry and you perish, for his anger suddenly flares up. Blessed are those who trust in him!
Proverbs 16:20 (NASB): He who pays attention to the word will find good, and he who trusts in the Lord is blessed.
Isaiah 30:18 (NKJV): Therefore, the Lord will wait a little and have mercy on you, and therefore he will be exalted for the mercy he will have on you. Surely the Lord is a just God; Blessed are all who trust in him!
Finally, we can achieve happiness if we have God in our lives. If we confidently follow his will which is good, pleasing and perfect, we can face the reality of the world we live in with happiness and joy in spirit.
Even though we know that we live in a world that is full of suffering and injustice, especially in recent times. Our faith teaches us that all these circumstances are temporary and that our hope of happiness is in the eternal things deposited in the promises of God for us, in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV): The difficulties we have are small, and they will not last forever. But, thanks to them, God will fill us with the glory that lasts forever: a great and wonderful glory.
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