Happiness

1. God is inherently happy and desires our happiness

God is going to be as pleased to have you with Him in heaven as you will be to be there with Him.

Divine happiness. God's nature includes underlying happiness, which overflows in all He does. This happiness is not diminished by sin or suffering in the world. God experiences a broad range of emotions, including grief, without losing His fundamental state of joy.

Happiness shared. God delights in sharing His happiness with His creation. He designed humans with the capacity and desire for happiness, reflecting His own nature. God's command for people to rejoice and be glad is an invitation to participate in His happiness.

• God's happiness predates creation
• The Trinity experiences perfect joy within itself
• God's happiness is the source of all human happiness

2. Happiness is central to the biblical message and Christian life

Christianity is almost the only one of the great religions which thoroughly approves of the body—which believes that matter is good, that God Himself once took on a human body, that some kind of body is going to be given to us even in Heaven and is going to be an essential part of our happiness, our beauty and our energy.

Biblical emphasis. The Bible contains over 2,700 passages related to joy, happiness, and gladness. The gospel is described as "good news of great joy" and the "good news of happiness." This emphasis contradicts the notion that Christianity is primarily about duty or somber reverence.

Happiness as obedience. God repeatedly commands His people to rejoice and be glad. Our level of happiness can be seen as a measure of our obedience to these divine instructions. The pursuit of happiness in God is not selfish, but a proper response to His goodness.

• Happiness words appear about 2,000 times in Scripture
• Jesus used the word for "happy" (makarios) repeatedly in the Beatitudes
• Christian joy should be visible and attractive to unbelievers

3. Joy and happiness are synonymous in Scripture

If you have nice little categories for 'joy is what Christians have' and 'happiness is what the world has,' you can scrap those when you go to the Bible, because the Bible is indiscriminate in its uses of the language of happiness and joy and contentment and satisfaction.

Linguistic evidence. The Hebrew and Greek words traditionally translated as "blessed" (asher and makarios) are more accurately rendered as "happy." Many Bible scholars and commentators throughout history have recognized this equivalence.

Modern misconception. The artificial distinction between joy and happiness is a recent development in Christian thought. This separation has led to a misunderstanding of Scripture's emphasis on happiness and has potentially made Christianity less appealing to unbelievers.

• Asher and makarios are consistently defined as "happy" in Hebrew and Greek lexicons
• Many non-English Bible translations use words for "happy" where English versions say "blessed"
• The supposed contrast between joy and happiness is not supported by biblical language

4. Biblical happiness coexists with suffering and trials

We imitate God's blessedness when we find delight and happiness in all that is pleasing to God . . . [and] by rejoicing in the creation as it reflects various aspects of his excellent character. And we find our greatest blessedness, our greatest happiness, in delighting in the source of all good qualities, God himself.

Paradoxical joy. Scripture teaches that believers can experience genuine happiness even in the midst of difficulties. This counterintuitive truth is based on the eternal perspective provided by faith in God's promises.

Purpose in pain. Biblical happiness is not dependent on circumstances but on a relationship with God. Trials and suffering can deepen this relationship and ultimately increase one's capacity for joy. The happiness God offers is not superficial or fleeting, but profound and lasting.

• Jesus promised joy to those facing persecution (Matthew 5:11-12)
• Paul rejoiced while imprisoned (Philippians 4:4)
• James encourages believers to count trials as joy (James 1:2-4)

5. God commands celebration and rejoicing

Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this!

Divine party planner. God instituted numerous feasts and celebrations for His people in the Old Testament. These occasions were meant to be times of joy, feasting, and remembrance of God's goodness. Far from being austere or overly serious, these celebrations were characterized by happiness and delight.

Holistic worship. Rejoicing before the Lord involves not just spiritual exercises but also physical pleasures like eating, drinking, and community gatherings. God approves of and even commands His people to enjoy these good gifts within the context of worship and gratitude.

• The Israelite calendar included about 80 days of feasting annually
• God instructed people to spend part of their tithe on food and drink they desired (Deuteronomy 14:26)
• Celebration is a form of worship and obedience to God

6. True happiness comes from knowing and obeying God

My whole, more general, difficulty about the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we can't help doing, about everything else we value.

Source of joy. Genuine, lasting happiness is found in a relationship with God. This happiness is not based on external circumstances but on the unchanging nature of God and His promises. Knowing God's character and experiencing His love provides a foundation for joy that transcends life's ups and downs.

Joyful obedience. Following God's commands leads to greater happiness, not less. God's laws are designed for human flourishing and reflect His loving nature. Obedience to God aligns our lives with His purposes, resulting in deeper satisfaction and joy.

• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and happiness (Proverbs 9:10)
• Jesus promised abundant life to His followers (John 10:10)
• Delight in God's law leads to prosperity and fruitfulness (Psalm 1:1-3)

7. Eternal happiness awaits believers in the New Heaven and New Earth

We'll only see the universe as it really is—centered on God and not us—if we discipline ourselves to think of God as God before we think of him in relationship to ourselves. Then God becomes more than a means to an end—aiding us on our self-help journey. He becomes the worship-worthy heart and soul, the Alpha and Omega of the "good news of great joy."

Ultimate fulfillment. The Christian hope includes the promise of perfect, unending happiness in God's presence. This future reality provides motivation and perspective for the present life. Believers can anticipate a state of joy beyond anything experienced in this fallen world.

Physical and spiritual bliss. The biblical vision of eternity includes both spiritual and physical elements. The resurrection of the body and the renewal of creation point to a holistic happiness that encompasses all aspects of human existence.

• God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4)
• Believers will enter into their master's happiness (Matthew 25:21)
• The New Earth will be filled with beauty, creativity, and joyful activity

Last updated: October 28, 2024