On September 14, 1982, the “story-book life” of Princess Grace Kelly, wife of Prince Rainier III of Monaco, came to a sudden, tragic end. On the day following her death, The Washington Post described Princess Grace as follows: “Absolutely beautiful; immaculate, perfectly groomed; a first-generation American beauty.” Most women so described, married to a prince, would be expected to be happy! But, a reporter once asked Princess Grace, “Are you truly happy?” She replied, “I don’t think any of us is ever truly happy.”
Webster defines happiness as a state of “pleasure, contentment, joy.”
Angus Campbell, Professor of Psychology and Sociology at the University of Michigan, in a 1979 U.S. News and World Report interview, revealed that his extensive research indicated that Americans then were generally less happy than were Americans who lived in the early 1950’s. Also, contrary to popular thinking, he found that: (1) Older people, for the most part, were happier than younger people (18-30 year-olds); (2) that happiness, generally, does not depend upon economic status; (3) that the most unhappy people were single adults in the 18-30 age bracket; and (4) that women who work outside the home are no happier than women who stay at home and are traditional housewives. Dr. Campbell described the “happiest American woman” as being under the age of 30, married, yet childless; and the “happiest American man” as being between 50 and 70 years of age, with children grown and gone from home.
So much for what the sociologist says about happiness—it is interesting but far from infallible! God’s Word has a lot to say about happiness:
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.” (Provs.3:13) “Happy is the man whom God correcteth.” (Job 5:17) Happy is the man that hath his quiver full (of children). (Psalm 127:5) “He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.” (Provs. 14:21) “Whoso trusteth the Lord, happy is he.” (Provs. 16:20) “Happy is the man that feareth alway….” (Provs. 28:14) “Where there is no vision the people perish, but he that keepeth the Law, happy is he.” (Provs. 29:18) And, “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 144:15)
Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most people are about as happy as they choose to be.” Probably no one reading this has gone through the grief Lincoln suffered through. He had experienced the death of dear loved ones, the loss of more than a few elections, a nation-splitting Civil War as well as many other personal losses. Yet the 16th president of the United States could attest that happiness was not a matter of circumstances, but rather a matter of choice! You can choose to be happy! Dr. Tim LaHaye wrote a book on “How to be Happy Though Married.” So, this is not a book, but some encouraging words based on God’s truth that will let you know “How to be Happy Though Human.”
- Be Sure You are Prepared to Meet God
- But, you must understand that becoming one of His children by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8–9) will not make all your problems vanish!
- Nor will “being saved” insulate you from having problems in the future. (i.e., sickness, death, financial problems, family disruptions)
- But, when you are “saved,” “regenerated,” “born again,” you can rejoice in that your sins—past, present, future—are pardoned!
“Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)
“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him: as far as the east is from the west: so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11)
- And, when you are “saved,” you will experience the peace of God.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)
Riches, fame, power, pleasure cannot buy or bring this “peace that passeth all understanding!”
“Pleasures are as poppies spread: You seize the flower, the bloom is shed.” (Poet Robert Burns)
Stephen Foster, famous American composer, died a drunkard’s death at the ripe old age of 37.
- Surrender your life to God daily, Romans 12:1-2
- Lose your own life: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall save it.” (Luke 9:24)
- Die to self: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20) A dove can land on a “live” high wire, clutching it firmly with both feet and not be “fried!” We too must land on Christ fully (nothing grasping the world) in faith as we “die to self.” One foot in the world and one trying to hold on to Him, and we’re “fried!”
- Serve the Lord with gladness. Here are a couple of ways to do that:
- Witness for Him: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy; he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with REJOICING, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5–6) Nothing will make you happier than bringing another soul to Christ and His kingdom!
- Work for Him. “Serve the Lord with gladness….” (Psalm 100:2)
“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you….” (2 Cor. 12:15) Exercise the spiritual gift that God’s Holy Spirit has equipped you with!
“The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but rather how many men he serves.” — D. L. Moody
Lorne Sanny, founder of the Navigators, answered the question “How do I know when I have a servant’s heart?” with these wise words: “You will know whether you have a servant’s heart by how you act when you are treated like one.”
Our Lord and Savior said that even He did not come into this world to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)
Pretty basic, yet very doable, formula for being happy though human. Be sure you are ready to meet God (i.e. that you are a “born-again” believer); then if you are, live a daily surrendered life as you walk with Him; finally, find your place of service in His vineyard and serve the Lord with gladness. If you follow these simple guidelines for happiness, you will be able to sing the song that A.H. Ackley penned, “I am happy in the service of the King; I am happy, Oh, so happy; I have peace and joy that nothing else can bring, in the service of the King.” Go for it, friend!
“Happy is that people… whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 144:15)
YOU and GOD 