1. Are You Truly Happy?

2. Are we happy?
High unemployment High prices Foreclosures Desperation Far too many are miserable!

3. Are we happy? What about as Christians?
Phil. 4:4 Does this describe our disposition?
What does the Bible say about happiness?

4. What Is Happiness?
“feeling, showing or expressing joy; pleased…Causing joy or gladness” (Collins Dictionary)
World’s concept – achieving what we want
God’s concept – Pet. 3:10-12

5. What Is Happiness? God wants us to be happy! Eccl. 3:12-13
Phil. 4:4, 1 John 1:4 John 15:11, 16:22-24

6. Happiness is a state of mind
What Is Happiness?
Happiness is a state of mind
Most people are as happy as they make up their mind to be.” Abraham Lincoln
It involves attitude! What makes us different? Cf. Gal. 5:22-23, Matt. 6:19-21

7. What Happiness is NOT Found in pleasure Eccl. 2:1-2
The problem with laughter and fun is that they are very temporary Heb. 11:25
Prov. 14:13, Eccl. 7:2-3
Laughter does not solve problems Luke 12:19

8. What Happiness is NOT: Found in things Eccl. 2:8-11
Do we have too much to be happy? Matt. 19:23-24, 1 Tim. 6:10

9. What Happiness is NOT: Found in wisdom Eccl. 2:12-17
Not all wisdom leads to happiness. Worldly wisdom – 1 Cor. 1:21, Rom. 1:20-23

10. Found in accomplishments
What Happiness is NOT:
Found in accomplishments
Eccl. 2:18-23
Eccl. 5:13-17, 4:4
Hard work is good, but not always appreciated. Can alienate friends.
Can be good - Eccl. 5:18-20

11. Found in future achievements
What Happiness is NOT:
Found in future achievements
Eccl. 6:7-9
What happens when you reach your “goal” and it is not what you wanted?

12. What Happiness is NOT:
While many of these attainments are not wrong within themselves, they cannot produce true happiness because they are temporal! Their Pursuit CAN be sinful!

13. Happiness as a Christian
Fear God and obey Him
Eccl. 12:13 Acts 10:34-35

14. Happiness as a Christian
Remove sin from your life
You have to repent. As long as sin is present, you will be miserable. Eccl. 12:13 Acts 10:34-35

15. Happiness as a Christian
Get over yourself!
Curb your behavior concerning others. Gossip, paranoia, etc. leads to misery Phil. 2:3-4

16. Happiness as a Christian
Put God first
Matt. 6:33, Luke 14:33 Are we struggling with this?

17. Happiness as a Christian
Pray about it often
1 John 5:14 According to His will – Phil. 4:6-7

18. Happiness as a Christian
Count your blessings
1 Tim. 6:7-8 Contentment

19. Happiness as a Christian
Patiently trust God
God is on our side - Heb. 13:5-6, 1 Pet. 5:6-7, Rom. 8:31-37

20. Are you Happy in Him?