What does it take to make you happy?

I hear you mention the following things: A residence permit. A house. A house with three rooms. A woman or man I can marry, a driver's license. A business of my own or nice work so I can earn more and buy a car, etc.

You know that? If I have residence permit, then ... I am happy. If I'm married, if I have a job, then I'm happy. If I have ...., then ..... [fill in the blank]

King Solomon thought the same way, and he was very rich, so he went and put all his wishes into practice! But did he become happy? What did he do?

As we can dream of becoming rich, Solomon was:

Ecclesiastes 2:8a 'I piled up gold and silver and shared in the riches of kings and nations.'

As we believe that having a lot of fun makes you happy.
Solomon did it:

Ecclesiastes 2:8b 'I appointed singers and singers [organized parties] and tasted the pleasure of many, many women.'

As we often think that if we are important and successful and people are impressed by us, then I am truly happy. Solomon did it .......

Ecclesiastes 2:4-5 'Also, I undertook great things: I have built palaces for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I have laid out gardens and parks and planted in them many and beautiful fruit trees.'

And from all over the world other kings came to admire him. Rarely has anyone received more attention and honor! But did he become happy?

Ecclesiastes 2:1 'I said to myself, Come, let me try to savor the pleasures of life and enjoy the good things. But even that, I discovered, is only emptiness.'

Solomon did not become happy!!! No even worse, he became more and more unhappy.

Read Ecclesiastes 2:17 'I developed an aversion to life [I began to hate life]. Every occupation under the sun began to dislike me, for it is no more than air and chasing wind.'

Deeply and profoundly unhappy, depressed! What am I all about? Does life still make sense! Depressed and angry.

The solution

But what is the solution now? What now is God's way to happiness?
The solution is to have the right spiritual attitude/ disposition.

Jesus teaches us in the Beatitudes in Mat 5 that happiness does not depend on our situation.
My happiness does not come from that which is happens around me, but because of that what inside me happens.

How is your heart? What is happening in your heart? That's where the decision whether you are happy or not falls. We are far from being able to say everything today. We focus on the first thing Jesus mentions: humility.

Reading: Mat. 5:3  [NBV translation] "Happy who humble of heart are, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  [one of the meanings of 'poor in spirit'][1]

Humility is the first step to a happy, God-blessed life.

What is humility? When is someone humble? I'm talking about true humility, being humble, not acting humble. Who is humble?

• Humble is the opposite of pride.
• If you are humble, you are not in the business of dictating the law to others, but you are eager to build up others by serving.
• Those who are humble are not busy trying to be in the foreground, but are busy appreciating others. To whom did you express your appreciation last week?
• Those who are humble do not talk much about themselves, but have genuine interest in others and are good listeners.
• Those who are humble do not judge and condemn others, but seek to help those who fall or sin.
• If you are humble, you believe that everyone is important in the eyes of God, no one is more than another.
• Those who are humble do not need to be constantly busy polishing/ making their own "self" beautiful.
  As a result, there is room in your mind to be genuinely happy when things go well for another person. Humble people do not think less/lower of themselves, but are less concerned with themselves. [C.S. Lewis]

Fruit of humility:

• It reduces stress. If I am humble, I don't have to know everything or be able to do everything. When I am humble, I don't have to pretend to be perfect.
  When I am humble, I don't have to hide and shame myself. I can be myself. Gone is stress.
• It improves my relationship with others. You don't always have to be right. You apologize when you do something wrong. Then others like to deal with you. But if you are proud with a very big "I" and selfish, no one likes to deal with you.
• But the most important fruit is: Humility brings power from God into your life

James says in James 4:6 '[the Holy Spirit] gives the greatest possible grace according to the word of Scripture: God turns against the proud, but to the humble he gives his grace.[2]

The great possible grace of God Is for humble people!!!

It is about the "status of grace," versus the status of a sinful, worldly life.
'Grace' here refers to a life in the power and love of God. A life filled with gifts of grace, spiritual gifts. A life full of God's presence. That is what makes one truly happy.

Do you long for that? Would you like to live that kind of life? Then start practicing humility today.

You haven't learned it until you can put it into practice, Jesus says.
If you have passed the theory lessons of driving, can you drive? No, then you still have to learn to drive. So is it with humility and being happy. You have to practice that with practical lessons.

Mat 7:24 Whoever hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.

[1] These are poor who cannot read and write, who have no opportunities to improve their circumstances and make themselves happy. They can do only 1 thing: trust God in everything. NBV therefore translates with "humble in heart.

[2] Jesus says in Mat. 18:4 He who humbles himself and becomes like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.