CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

Dennis Prager is a Jewish radio talk show host. Each week he does a segment called The Happiness Hour (1). I normally do not listen to this but recently I listened to it, fascinated by what he outlined. He divided his list into two parts. The first is what people think makes them happy and the second is what makes people happy. I have taken the outline and added my own comments.

What do people think makes them happy? The first is the absence of pain. People want to live in a pain-free world. No child should be on the loosing side. People should not hurt my feelings, for that is painful. Medical scientists should find cures for whatever ails us without side effects. Rather than living with pain, some seek to euthanize people so that they do not have to live with pain. This is wishful thinking. We often loose in any number of ways, whether at play or in life. We get diseases that bring pain and people hurt our feelings, even those close to us. Learning to live and deal with disappointment and pain is a process of growth, and ultimately, dependence on God.

People think that fortune will make them happy. That is why gambling and state lotteries are so popular. If I could only win the “big one” then I can make all my dreams come true. Yet lottery winners are often very unhappy. They find that they have more friends then they knew they had, all who want a piece of the pie. Professional athletes who made millions during their brief careers are often struggling a few years after retirement, unable to manage money or life. Then just consider Hollywood and other show business people who cannot handle wealth, often involved in drug and sexual abuse, few with any relationships whatsoever.

Fame is another thing people think will make them happy. Everyone wants their fifteen minutes of fame, hence we see all these so-called “reality shows” where people make fools of themselves to gain fame. Others seek fame in negative ways. Yet the famous movie stars of the thirties and forties are barely remembered today. Even the famous rock and roll bands and folk singers of the sixties are forgotten. Fame indeed is fleeting.

Some try fun to be happy. What is fun? We all like to have fun. For some it is making a fool of oneself. For others it might be foul language comedy or teasing of others. Drinking to excess, the use of drugs, sleeping around, constantly joking in life with nothing serious to think about often ends in emptiness. All is focused on the self and what cam make me happy.

The last thing that I think some seek to make themselves happy is power. Living and working with power hungry people is difficult and frustrating, whether in the workplace or the church. People on power trips think that if everyone thought and did what they say, the world would be a better place. So they yell and scream and make everyone miserable, thinking they are accomplishing something. They even think that if we did their way then we would be as happy as they are, even though they are miserable because people do not see it the same way.

What then makes people happy? The first thing is that of gratitude. We have much to be thankful for in our nation, and in our relationship with Christ. We have a national day of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the freedoms we have in this country. In the past, it has been connected with worship, thanking God for blessing our nation. When we think about how God has blessed us individually, we have much to be thankful for as well. Family, friends, fellowship, food, freedom, clothes, and work are among the things we can be thankful for. We are thankful that we can worship in freedom in a nation that has given us that freedom through God. We as God’s people can be thankful in any and all circumstances, good or bad (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Secondly, we can be happy by love. Jesus encourages us to seek what is best for another even if that means dying for them. Love is not an emotional response as some often mistake the meaning of Biblical word agape’, but it is a conscience choice we can make. To love one another is a new commandment Jesus gave us. When we think about what that means, it crosses all national, economic and racial barriers (see Ephesians 2:11-22). Beyond that we are to love our neighbor as well. How well do we know our neighbor? Who is our neighbor. Jesus illustrates that with the Parable of the Good Samaritan in which the priest and Levite pass an injured fellow on the road but the Samaritan cares for him. For us it might be a simple as changing a flat tire for a stranger, something I have done several times. Yet there is one more we are to love; that is our enemy. There are no emotions involved here. It is a deliberate choice that we make. Our national philosophy based on the Judeo-Christian worldview has often been seen in U.S. military personnel risking their own lives to aid wound and injured people who were or are enemies, because we understand the concept of seeking the best for others. Family is included in this as well. We treat our wives and daughters with respect, unlike what is seen in many parts of the world. Western civilization has stood out in this way. When the British entered India for the first time, they saw wives burned to death on the briers of their husbands. They immediately put a stop to that horrible activity and as long as the British were there, that was not done.

Fourth, religion plays an important role in happiness. It recognizes that there is Someone beyond us and that there is more to life than just what we see. God has made us creatures of relationships, both with each other and with Him. As we draw closer to God, we learn contentment in all circumstances, at least that is what Paul said from prison (see Philippians 4:10-13). The two books mentioned below emphasize that those who walk with God, understand the concept of right and wrong, and live in service, become happy people. I think that when we see dour face people at an assembly, and those who often complain, though there is much to complain about; they have lost the sense of service that Jesus illustrates in His life; service such as washing the disciples feet (John 13) or of healing and spending time listening to others. James tells us in our opening text that if we are happy, we sing praises to God. How often do we do that?

Fifth, we need to be growing. The Hebrew writer told the Hebrews that they should have been doing that but they needed the basics again (6:1-3). They should have been beyond the basics. I have often heard and read of preachers who advocate that we should stick to the first principles of the faith. By this they mean both the elementary ideas of the plan of salvation and our traditions. As children grow into adults, so too must we as Christians grow. There are many challenging ideas found in scripture related to God. Much is difficult and many are afraid to journey beyond the basics. One of the reasons for decline in congregations is that people are afraid of the difficult questions of life and scripture, so they would rather preachers stay with the familiar. I go to lectureships to be challenged to think, to look beyond where I am now. I do not wish to be stagnant in my life and pray that I will always seek to learn more.

Finally, we need a past, or to say it another way, to know our history, but nationally, culturally, and individually. My dad was from Scotland and I have had the privilege twice of visiting Scotland. Dad made an effort to find out about the family names of Mearns and Bryce and to trace them back several hundred years. Interestingly, much of the South was settled by Scots, independent as they were, and stubborn. Mom’s side of the family came from Holland and we lived in a Dutch and Italian neighborhood when I was growing up. All this and more have been an influence on my life, and in part on my children’s lives. They too have a history they are developing, impacted by any number of events in their parents lives. While many find history boring, knowing the basics is important to us. Scripture often refers to the past and what God has done as a means to encourage Israel and the church (see Psalm 78 for one text).