Strategic Renewal

So, how HAPPY has your “Happy New Year” been so far?  

A couple years ago the Gallup Organization asked 352,840 adults in all 50 states to evaluate their lives based on a number of factors that typically objectify happiness.  Gallup then produced a report of the most and least happy states in the U.S.   The top five were Hawaii, Utah, Montana, Minnesota, and Iowa.  The bottom five were Nevada, Ohio, Arkansas, Kentucky, and finally, West Virginia. [i]

A year later Gallup conducted another similar poll.  This time Hawaii, Wyoming, North Dakota, Alaska, and Colorado were in the top five.  The bottom included Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, and again in last, West Virginia. [ii]  I found it interesting to see how the lists change in many ways from year to year.

I also discovered that Gallup did similar research on a global scale between 2005 and 2009.  They found that the happiest nations were Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and The Netherlands while the bottom five were Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Comoros, Burundi, and Togo.

The State of Happiness?

Short of moving to Hawaii or out of Arkansas, Kentucky, or West Virginia, what should we do about this information? We all know that external happiness factors can be fickle and fluid.  Happiness is not about the state of the union in which we live but the state of heart and mind by which we live.  The answer is not to change location but to change our approach and attitude.

In last week's e-devotion we saw that various terms are used in the Scriptures to describe happiness, such as “joy,” “blessing,” and “delight.” The Amplified Bible explains, “to be envied, and spiritually prosperous – with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of outward conditions.”  Whether you live in Hawaii, West Virginia, Texas, or Rhode Island – this is the real happiness Christ-followers can experience every day.   We already looked at four key truths about this happiness:  

1). Happiness is rooted in spiritual intimacy

2). Happiness is founded in obedience to God

3). Happiness is cultivated by a clear conscience

4). Happiness flows from wise choices

Four More Ingredients for REAL Happiness

Let’s look briefly at four more biblical elements of a happy life.

Happiness fuelled by unselfish service

In his powerful final exhortation to his fellow leaders from the church in Ephesus, Paul spoke of the pathway of risk and sacrifice he was pursuing in order to fulfill Christ’s call on his life.  Undaunted by the danger, yet enthusiastic about the opportunity, he quoted the Lord Jesus: “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving" (Acts 20:35). 

It is counterintuitive to our flesh but the fact remains that to be happy we must focus on the needs of others and willingly serve their concerns.  Chronically unhappy people are always inward- and self-focused.  The fountain of Christ’s love that was designed to flow through them to refresh others and produce personal happiness instead becomes a cesspool of stale, lifeless water that never achieved its end.  We’ve all heard of the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.  Galilee has life-giving inlets and outlets and is vibrant.  The Dead Sea has no outlet and is...dead.

Mark Twain said, "The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up."  We can all walk in the joyful steps of Jesus, who “came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Happiness enhanced by healthy relationships

Few things can drain our vitality more quickly and thoroughly than unhealthy relationships marked by anger, argument, and animosity.  Psalm 34:12-14 says, “Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies.  Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart.”   We must trust Christ for the grace every moment to guard our words, speak the truth in love, give blessing to others, and strive for peace.  It is hard work but it is happy work – and vital to our well-being.

Happiness is strengthened by genuine trust

We all place our trust in something; our own plans, another person, an organization, the government... or a whole array of other choices.  We must choose carefully and wisely because our core happiness is at stake.

When Jesus visited the home of Martha and Mary, the trust of each sister was specific but very different.  Martha, trusting in her hard work, culinary skills, and type-A personality, received a rebuke from Christ. “Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things” (Luke 10:41).  Mary expressed her trust in Christ, evidenced in a quiet heart of prioritized worship.  Christ commended her: “Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42).  We all ultimately trust in the things to which we give our primary time and attention.

Psalm 40:4 instructs, “Happy are those who trust the LORD, who do not turn to idols or join those who worship false gods.”  Psalm 146:5 affirms, “Happy is the man who has the God of Jacob to help him and who depends on the LORD his God.”  Psalm 28:7 reminds us, “The LORD protects and defends me; I trust in him. He gives me help and makes me glad; I praise him with joyful songs.”

Happiness is focused on eternity’s reward

If we learn anything from Jesus’ profound words known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), we discover that true disciples do not derive their happiness from this world.  Their focus is the eternal realities that transcend the present and the eternal reward that is sure in the future.  As Jesus stated, “Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven.”

In Matthew 24:41-48, Jesus spoke of the master who had left his servants behind to do their duties while he was away on a trip.  Expecting them to be faithful in light of the master’s return, Jesus notes, “How happy that servant is if his master finds him doing this when he comes home!”  Soon, this life and everything we cling to will be gone.  Our reward in eternity remains.  Happiness is found in a focus on the next life and things that will matter in that new and eternal reality.  

Our Duty to Be Happy

Speaking of the need to demonstrate happiness, G. K. Chesterton said, “It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light.”  The year 2012 can be a truly happy year in Christ.  It is our responsibility to define and embrace this happiness with a whole heart.  Robert Louis Stevenson said, “There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.”  We have a duty to be happy – for Christ’s glory, for our own well-being, for the good of those we love, and for the sake of those who need to see and hear Christ through us. 

So “Happy New Year.”  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

[i] http://www.livescience.com/8091-happiest-states-2009-list.html

[ii] http://www.livescience.com/13107-happiest-states-2010-list.html

Copyright © 2012 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.