Unfounded Happiness
Hello everyone. “Rejoice in the Lord always:
and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). This is the week’s memory
verse. I hoped you had already looked it up. I told you yesterday
that you already had it memorized.
Our study today is from a familiar text, but we
are looking at it from an unusual application. Open your Bible and
read Luke 12:16-21. I want us to notice some points first about the
farmer and then an application in regard to our monthly
characteristic of happiness.
- The farmer was a hard worker. Very few
lazy people are truly happy. They seldom accomplish anything
worthwhile. Have you ever noticed that those things that are
worthwhile require hard work: breaking a bad habit, making a
good habit, converting a soul, resisting temptation, providing a
living, etc. Even in salvation, the Lord said, “…work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12)
- The farmer had a purpose in life. This is
an important ingredient in happiness. He had in mind what it
meant to be a successful farmer and he was realizing that goal.
Paul showed the importance of purpose in life when he said “I
press toward the mark if the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).
- Because of his hard work and God’s
blessings in nature, the farmer was successful. This too is an
ingredient of having joy in your life. People who are always
failing at every endeavor usually think very poorly of
themselves and are unhappy. This is one reason we should help
our children grow emotionally healthy with their successes. God
rewards our successes: “Well done, good and faithful servant”
(Mt. 25:21).
- The farmer was able to feel secure.
Security is one of the great goals of nearly every human being.
Jesus understood the importance of security as an ingredient of
happiness. He told the apostles (and us), “…I am with you
always, even unto the end of the world” (Mt. 28:20). He knew how
difficult their task was going to be.
- The farmer was content, yea, happy with
where he was in life. He had much more than food and raiment (1
Tim. 6:8).
The Real Lesson: The farmer’s happiness was
unfounded. He had a false contentment. Some say that one cannot be
happy unless they are faithful to God. Unfortunately, there are
many, like the farmer, who are content and happy, but they are
without God. Their contentment will be short lived – only as long as
their life – which leaves an eternity of unhappiness. God did not
say that contentment (happiness) is great gain. He said that
contentment must be coupled with godliness (1 Tim. 6:6). Solomon
accomplished all the ingredients of happiness that the farmer did:
hard work, purpose, success and security. But Solomon was also wise
and he concluded that everything, without God, is vanity (Eccl.
1:13-14). And, we cannot simply add God to our life in a way that
makes us happy. The folks who stood before Jesus in Mt. 7:21-23 were
obviously happy with their service to God in life. But when they
stood before Jesus as judge, they were quickly aware that being
happy with ourselves is not necessarily being right with God.
Please let me urge you to not have an unfounded
happiness. Do not take your salvation for granted just because you
are happy with your service to God. Be sure you are saved (Mk.
16:16; Act 2:37-41) and be sure you are working out your own
salvation (Phil 2:12; 1 Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10).
Mike Glenn
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