Mythbusted
God Wants Me to Be Happy

by Pastor M. J.Fitch
June 20, 2010
Text:  Phillipians 4:10-13

(This sermon begins with a 2:22 minute video from Fairhaven Church called, "Does God Really Care?" This video can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pGxUahJL9Y)

Are you truly happy - and do you believe that God cares when bad things happen? If Mick and Buster saw you on the street and asked you those questions, how would you answer? Do you believe that God wants you to be happy? When you aren't happy or when bad things happen, does that mean that God doesn't love you anymore?

Today we continue our sermon series called "Myth-busted" - looking at some faith statements that aren't always true. We want to see if these statements are biblically accurate - and how believing these myths can affect our faith.

Today's myth is one that is particularly common in our American culture. You will hear people talk about this all this time - on TV commercials, in movies - even with some popular TV preachers. It goes like this: God wants you to be happy. God wants you to enjoy life. God wants you to prosper in very single way - to be successful and rich. Have it your way. You deserve it.

Our country was actually built on a form of this belief. We read it in the Declaration of Independence where it states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the ……pursuit of happiness."

We as Americans are very proud of that statement. We believe in our freedom - and that God has given us that blessing. We are grateful that our country was built upon those values. The problem happens when we start believing the myth that pursuing our own happiness is the most important thing. We become self-focused and indulgent - thinking that it is my right to be happy - even if it hurts others or goes against what is right and true. We say, "Above all else be happy. Do what you want to do. Satisfy yourself. Look out for number one. Do your own thing."

Former Redskins star quarterback Joe Theismann is one who has really pursued his own happiness. He had a great career as a football player and then as a commentator for ESPN. Back in 1994, his second wife, Jeanne Caruso Theismann took him to court for a divorce. Apparently Joe had been having an affair. Jeanne's lawyer told the court that when Jeanne asked Joe why he had had an affair, ''he said, 'God wants Joe Theismann to be happy.'" It didn't matter that the affair and subsequent divorce was wrong. The only thing that mattered was his own happiness….and he justified his actions by saying God wanted him to be happy. (http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/keyword/joe-theismann)

You know that saying, "God wants me to be happy" is never found in the Bible. God doesn't say, "Do not commit adultery…unless of course that's what's makes you happy…then go ahead."

You see the problem with this kind of thinking is you think that whatever makes you happy is right and good. Your happiness is the judge for your actions. For example, back in 1996, a song came out by pop singer named Sheryl Crow that says "If it makes you happy it can't be bad". This kind of thinking is similar to what we saw a couple of weeks ago with the myth of "I can believe whatever I want to believe". If I believe it is good and it makes me happy - then it is alright. And since God wants me to be happy - whatever makes me happy is good.But when we read the Bible we see that this is far from the truth. God decides what is true and right and it is his standards that we are to live by. In fact, God doesn't want us to be happy if that means we do something morally wrong or unwise - going against his standards. Let's look at what Peter says in his letter in the New Testament. Turn to I Peter 1 and let's look at verses 13-15. I Peter is near the end of the Bible, just right after the book of James. I Peter 1:13-15. Peter says this:

13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation

that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

14 So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into

your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then.

15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

Now notice, it doesn't say, "Be happy in all you do." It says "Be holy in everything you do. That means you follow God's standards in everything - your marriage, your finances, your parenting, how you spend your time, where you go and what you do. Everything you do - you must follow God's standards.

And here's what is interesting. When we are following Jesus - and doing what He wants us to do, we will be happier. Our happiness is really connected to making that decision to follow His standards - rather than our own.

One time, Ron Hutchcraft was going down the highway and came upon an RV that was pulling a small car behind it. The first thing he saw as he got close to the towed car was its license plate. It said, "Me also." Well, that didn't make much sense until he got a glimpse of the license plate on the RV that was pulling that car. It said, "I'm happy." That little car's identity made no sense if it was not attached to the big vehicle that's taking it where it needs to go. It works as long as the car is following.

"Following is exactly what Jesus has commanded those of us who belong to Him to do. His often-repeated command is, "Follow Me." To the extent that we are following the One who's supposed to be in front of us, the happier we are. To the extent we're unhitched and off on our own, we're not very happy. Things work as long as we're following.

A follower of Jesus shares his or her Master's joy and peace and confidence so long as that follower is following. If you've been drifting away from your Leader, if you've come unhitched from the Source of your joy, it 's time to get back to what you know is the happiest place in the world - in the center of the will of God." (Ron Hutchcraft, A Daily Word, Volume 5, paged 18 & 19)

Which means that "My Happiness is not the most important thing". In fact, my happiness is not God's most important priority! Oh sure - God wants us to have an abundant and full life. God wants us to know joy! But not if that means we go against His standards and commandments.

Saying that "My happiness is the most important thing" is a myth that is "BUSTED"! It is living for God - living as God's obedient children and following Him that is important - being holy in all we do

Another myth connected with this view of happiness is saying: God wants us to be happy - so He will give us whatever we want. All we have to do is pray to Him and because He loves us and wants to make us happy - He will give us whatever we ask.

The problem with this kind of thinking is that it makes God revolve around us instead of us revolving around Him. We reverse roles. Instead of being God's servant - God becomes our servant. We make God like a magic genie. If we just say the right words -- He comes to us and says, "Your wish is my command". We want Him to do our bidding.

You know I am glad that God doesn't always give us what we want - those things that we think we will make us happy. Because I believe many times what we think will make us happy - in the long run won't. For example, I know there were times as a teenager, I prayed that God would make some boy like me - or that God would work it out so that I could marry someone that was absolutely wrong for me. At the time I thought that would really make me happy….but God knew better. Or maybe I prayed and prayed that God would work it out that I could have a certain job, because I knew I would be happy living there and having that particular job. When I didn't get what I wanted…I thought I would be so unhappy. But in the end - the job I really got was so much better for me. Has anyone ever had that experience?

You see - God does want us to be happy - but He wants us to be happy living in His will and following His plans for our lives. When we pray we have to pray wanting His best for our lives - not what we think is best.

I John 5:14 -15 says: "14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him." Now notice, it doesn't say, if we ask for anything we want that makes us happy, we will have it. Rather, if we ask anything according to His will.

Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane is a perfect example of this. There in the garden, as He was anticipating the agony of the cross on the very next day, Jesus cried out to God in prayer. Humanly speaking, what would make Jesus happy? To avoid the suffering and pain of the cross. So Jesus prayed - "Please remove this cup from me" - remove this suffering from me. But notice what He says next: "But not my will but yours be done." Jesus gives us the example of how we should pray. God - your will be done. I'm not praying that you give me whatever makes me happy - because I really don't know what will truly make me happy. But you know. So God, let your will, your plan for my life be done.

Will God give me whatever I ask because He wants me to be happy? No, that statement is ---- BUSTED!

One last myth that is often said is this: "If God wants me to be happy, then when bad things happen, it must mean that God doesn't care or doesn't love me anymore." Some people believe that when you give your life to God, then everything will be good and happy. And when things go bad - we either don't have enough faith or God isn't good any more or God just doesn't care. But if we read the Bible, we know that this just isn't the case.

Jesus was very clear that we would not always have things easy in this world. In fact, Jesus said in John 16:33, Jesus said: "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." Notice, Jesus didn't say you will never have any more problems - or that we would always be happy. There will always be times of struggle….but that doesn't mean that God doesn't care. In fact - it was just the opposite. The good news is that we are never alone. Jesus does not abandon us to our struggles. He promises to walk beside us and to help us to see life's circumstances differently.

One person who really understood this was the Apostle Paul. Paul went through a lot of trials and problems. He was arrested and beaten and shipwrecked and eventually killed for his faith. He had every reason to be unhappy. But that was not the case. Once, while he was in prison awaiting the decision about his execution, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi. We read this amazing letter in the book of Philippians. Turn with me to Philippians 4 and see how Paul handled the pain he was going through.

Philippians 4, beginning at verse 4, Paul tells the Philippians to "Always be full of joy in the Lord". They are to rejoice and tell God exactly what you need. And look what will happen when you do that. You will be filled with God's peace that exceeds anything we can understand. The source of our joy is not in the circumstances going on around us…it is in the Lord. He cares about us and will give us a peace that passes all understanding when we lean on Him.

And then Paul expresses thanks to the Philippians for a gift they had sent him. Follow along as I read Philippians 4:10-13:

10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn't have the chance to help me.

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

Paul learned how to be content in any circumstance he faced. Whether he was healthy or hungry; whether he had it all or lost it all….he knew the secret to being content. And that secret was drawing on Christ's power for strength. It was in pursuing God more than pursuing happiness. In fact, you really can't be content without making Jesus your number one priority. It really is impossible to be content in the midst of the difficult circumstances you and I find ourselves in unless we depend on God for the strength and power we need.

And we have to remember that there is nothing that can happen to us that can ever separate us from God's love. When bad things happen- it doesn't mean that God doesn't care or doesn't love us. Rather - it is God's love that will give us the strength to endure. When we put our trust in Jesus, He can take those things that are bad in our lives and redeem them….working them out for the good. Does God care? Oh my yes - no matter what we're going through - God is there and will never let us go. Thus that myth of God not caring is BUSTED!

Recent archaeological discoveries have uncovered letters written by martyrs during the trying centuries that followed the ascension of Christ. Just before his death, one saint wrote these words: "In a dark hole I have found cheerfulness; in a place of bitterness I have found laughter, where others fear, I have found strength. Who would believe that in a state of misery I have great pleasure; that in a lonely corner I have had glorious company, and in the hardest bonds, a perfect rest. All of these things Jesus has granted me. He is with me, comforts me, and fills me with joy. He drives bitterness from me and fills me with strength and consolation." Now that is someone who has truly pursued God and knows true joy!

INVITATION:

Are you pursuing God and knowing that true joy? Or do you find yourselves pursuing happiness more than you are pursuing God? Remember, God wants you to want Him more than He wants you to be happy.

Today is the day to get on the right track……..to put God first in your life. You will never know true contentment as Paul knew until you rely on God's promises and trust in Christ's power - pursuing God above all else.

Jesus does care about you and wants to walk with you through every step of your life. He wants to fill you with His joy and His peace - filling you up to overflowing with His love and mercy. Won't you come now and confess your faith in Him? Come and accept His gift of grace and mercy. Come; rededicate yourself to living for Him. Jesus is waiting to answer your call. Why don't you come now and call on Him? Come, as we stand and sing. , it's for