Does Jesus want us to be happy?

Dearest Ones,

God has planted the seed of happiness in each of us and everyone is searching for it. After 30 years of remaining in the background, hidden and unknown, finally it was time for Jesus to come forward and tell others who He was. Some questions He may have asked Himself: What shall I talk about first? What can I say that won't turn the people off? Why don't I talk about the most important thing first - Happiness?

He gave us a road map to happiness -because so often people look for it in the wrong places. He gave us eight guideposts or beatitudes (which means ways to be happy) in the Sermon on the Mount, His first major talk. This sermon is believed to be the greatest teaching ever, since no other teaching has changed people's lives more than Matthew, Chapter 5-7. I hope you can find some time to read it this week. Although he was not a Christian, Mahatma Gandhi, saintly Hindu ruler of India, kept a copy of the Sermon on the Mount on his bed stand and read from it every night.

The things Jesus spoke of must have shocked His listeners. Yet, He told them, there is no other road to happiness except these guideposts. The first is: "Happy are the poor in spirit." But how can people be happy if they are poor? This seems to be a contradiction. Most people might say, "Blessed are the rich!" instead! Poor people who hate the rich and are continually jealous are not pleasing to God. The poor have a chance to grow closer to God than the rich because they must depend on Him for everything. Jesus said, "Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor spin, yet God clothes them. Are you not worth more than many sparrows?" -Matt. ch. 5

Money does not guarantee happiness. In 1923, a high-level business meeting was held in Chicago. Present were nine of the richest men in America. 25 years later, where were these 9 powerful men? Three had died penniless, three had committed suicide, two were in prison and one had gone insane.

As long as they make loving use of their money, such as feeding the starving, clothing the destitute and helping those without jobs, the rich are pleasing to God. The world has its own idea of happiness. For example, the world says, "Blessed are the powerful," while Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek and merciful." If you want to be happy, Jesus says, forgiveness is the key.

When we speak of the "world" we are talking about the influence of evil. Some of the teachings of Jesus turned the ways of the world upside down. I will list a few:

"You have heard that it is said, 'Thou shalt not kill', but I say to you, if one is angry with his brother, he shall be guilty before God."

"Whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be sent to hell."

"You have heard it said, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery.' But I say that anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery."

"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away."

"Do not resist one who is evil. If one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

"Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you."

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

"When you pray, go to your room and pray in secret and your heavenly Father who sees everything, will reward you."

"If you do not forgive those who hurt you, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you."

"Judge not, that you be not judged."

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?"

"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find. For everyone who asks, receives."

"Enter by the narrow gate; for the way is wide and easy that leads to hell and many go that way. The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to heaven, and few there are who find it." (The above quotes are from Matt. 5-7)

These are just a few of the shocking teachings that Jesus proclaimed that day so long ago. The question for us today is this: "Do we live our lives following the values of the world as a way of reaching happiness or do we live by the teachings of Jesus?" If you live by the teachings of Jesus, then rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. Not only will you be happy in heaven some day, but you will also be happy here on this earth! God didn't give us rules because He is mean and harsh, rather it is because He loves us so much. Everything in the Bible God tells us to do is to make us happy.

You and I are loved!
Sister Francelle