Dennis Edwards
But where do we find such a thing as happiness? How do we know when we have found it? Can we know that we are happy? Is happiness in knowing? The Greeks say, “Know thyself!” Their adage of wisdom was in the knowing. But Jesus teaches otherwise. He says, “If you know these things happy are you if you do them.”[1]
But what things was Jesus talking about? Knowing yourself? Looking within for the knowledge of God within you? No, that was not the drift of His thoughts nor His words. It was at the Last Supper and Jesus had just finished washing His disciple’s feet. He then asked them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?”[2] He goes on to explain that if He, their Master, has washed their feet, how much more should they wash one another’s feet. He was demonstrating to them and explaining the importance of serving one another. He said, “If I your Lord and Master have washed your feet, how much more should you wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done.” The washing of the feet was something a servant would do. But here Jesus was serving them. He then spoke those famous words, “If you know these things, Happy are you if you do them.”
Jesus is saying, contrary to Greek thought and contrary to the Roman practise of over indulging the flesh, that happiness comes from service to others. Mother Teresa said it in the following manner: “The fruit of quietness is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace.” In other words, “The fruit of service is happiness.” Happiness is not in the “knowing” as the Greeks taught. Happiness is in the doing. Happiness is in serving others.
We are all inclined to self-deception. Apostle James warns us to not deceive ourselves in thinking we are doing when we are only hearing God’s Word.[3] Faith comes from hearing God’s Word and we find great joy in its truth. But God’s Word is not only to be heard, but to be put into practise. “Happy are you if you do them.” Jesus said we are wise if we hear God’s Word and do what it says.[4]
The Greeks taught that to “Know thyself” brought one to happiness of mind and heart. In Solomon’s Ecclesiastes we read, “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.” [5] That’s why when we go to Africa and live and work with the poor, we find in them happiness. In their simplicity and lack of knowledge they can be content. But we in our excess of knowledge are miserable.
Solomon goes on to write, “Sorrow is better than laughter (or false happiness): for by the sadness of the contenance the heart is made better.”[6] In other words, there is a false happiness or laughter that is not really happiness and peace. But it is through the sorrows of life that our hearts are broken and made better, that our shallowness and foolishness and selfishness is brought to the brim and extracted.
Solomon goes on to say that God’s presence is more with those in the house of mourning, than with those in the house of mirth.[7] Jesus goes on to tell us that God’s presence will be with those that truly love Him and keep His words. He said, “If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”[8] In the Psalms we read, “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.”[9] But in the verse preceding it we see, “that there be no complaining in our streets.”[10]
In other words, if we want inner happiness or peace in our hearts, we may very well need to go through sorrow and grief to find it. If we want God’s presence in our lives and the happiness He gives, we need to love and obey His words. If we have God as the Lord we will be happy, if we have no complaining in our streets.
I am reminded of Paul’s admonition: “Do not be anxious (or worried) about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace (or happiness) of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”[11] We see that if our hearts are thankful, God’s spirit will guard our heart and mind in happiness.
In the Psalms we read that God dwells in the praises of his people.[12] We can enter into His presence with singing, into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.[13] Apostle Paul tells us that happiness does not come from wine, wherein is excess or too much; but rather we should be filled with the Spirit.[14] He goes on to say we should be speaking to ourselves with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in our hearts to the Lord. We should be giving thanks always for all things unto God and submitting ourselves one to another in the fear of the Lord.[15]
And yet, as foolish children, we strive with all our hearts and minds for the things of the world, thinking that they will bring us happiness. We yearn with the lust of our eyes, and the lust of our flesh, and the pride of life for the things of the world that pass away and are gone forever. We neglect the eternal rewards we will gain, and the presence of God that will inhabit us through obeying His words. We’d rather live for the here and now and neglect the eternal realities.
My wife and I visited Africa two years ago and the joy we experienced from helping the poor and needy was undescribable. Some of my friends patted me on the back and aplauded me when I returned for the sacrifice I had made in going to that plague filled land. But like Dr. David Livingstone the Scottish missionary of the 1800s, we replied, “We made no sacrifice.” It truly was more blessed to give than to receive.[16]
Therefore, if you are not happy, start giving to the poor, visit the widows and orphans in their distress, help those in need, even those of your own family who may need your help.[17] Be eyes for the blind, and legs for them who cannot walk, and mouths for those who cannot speak. Happiness is not in the knowing. Happiness is in the doing. Happiness is in giving. Happiness is in loving. Happiness is in forgiving. Happiness is having God, our Lord Jesus Christ, as our Lord.
“In that day I will say unto thee, Come and sit at my table, for when I was nude, you clothed me. When I was sick, you visited me. When I was discouraged, you strengthened me. For as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me.”[18]
[1] John 13:17
[2] John 13:12b NIV
[3] James 1:22
[4] Matthew 7:24
[5] Ecclesiastes 1:18
[6] Ecclesiastes 7:3
[7] Ecclesiastes 7:4
[8] John 14:23
[9] Psalm 144:15
[10] Psalm 144:14
[11] Philippians 4:6-7
[12] Psalm 22:3
[13] Psalm 100:2,4
[14] Ephesians 5:18
[15] Ephesians 5:19-21
[16] Acts 20:35
[17] James 1:27, Isaiah 58:7
[18] Paraphrase from Matthew 25:34-40
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