Slide 1

God Bless Us With Happiness Philippians4:8,9Adapted from a SteveShepherdsermonhttp://www.sermoncentral.com/print_friendly.asp?SermonID=81629

Why would I preach about seeking happiness?Because I think this is a goal that most people have in life.Most people would like to have a certain amount of happiness in life and they go looking for it in all kinds of ways but they dont always find it.

Havent you noticed?The world goes at things backwards.

Let me throw out a couple names, Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong. Remember the sports world being very excited about Tiger Woods dominating the golf world. Most Americans were excited when Lance Armstrong set a record for winning Tour de France more times than anyone has ever done before and no one is likely to match for many years to come.

The world focuses on successes, not losses.

The worlds idea of happiness is found in success, money, fame, etc.

We see in hind-sight these two extremely successful people climbing to the top of the world only to be hurled off the mountain top.

Someone wrote, If you have money, people want to give you more.If youre rich and famous, people love to give things to you.If youre rich and influential, corporate boards invite you to join them.There you can make lots of money just by attending meetings and giving your opinion on the direction of the company you know nothing about.

While CEOs take home millions of dollars even when their companies perform poorly, the lowest-paid workers are the first to be laid off in bad economic times.

The average CEO still earns 500-1000 times the salary of the average worker.http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2013/1212/CEO-vs.-worker-pay-Walmart-McDonald-s-and-eight-other-firms-with-biggest-gaps/AT-T

Theres nothing wrong with people making lots of money, but the problem is that our society has convinced us that wealth alone equals success.We value people solely because of their checkbooks, regardless of what they did, or did not do, to make their money. Somehow we came to believe that rich people are better, smarter, more attractive and more successful than everyone else.

We give tax cuts to billionaires but lectures to low-wage workers.We complain when our co-workers make a few dollars more than us but rarely object when our CEOs collect millions in salary while they bankrupt our companies.We idolize the rich and despise the poor.

These things just dont make good sense, but thats the way of the world.However, Gods program is different and if we want to find any happiness at all in this crazy world then we must adopt His program and His ways.Our focus must be different than that of most people.

Again, if we are going to find any happiness in this life at all our focus must change.

1- We must focus on the positives, not the negatives2- We must focus on praising, not griping3- We must focus on giving, not getting

Philippians 4:8 ESV Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in mepractice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.We Must Focus On The Positives,Not The Negatives

Paul is saying that we should focus on the good things of this life and the positive things of this life.The more we look at negative, the worse we are going to feel.

Max Lucado tells the story about a lady seated with him on a plane.He said, "She sat in 14E and I sat in 14D. She was rural and I was urban. She was homey and I was professional. But she could see and I was blind.

"I groaned. I had a bad attitude.My week had been hectic.The plane was late and overbooked.I had a toothache and had left the tooth medicine at the hotel.I wanted to sleep, but I had work to do. And now I was sitting next to Gomer Pyles mother.

"Oooh, boy, look at that one! She pointed at the plane ahead of us on the runway. Is this one that big?Yes, I hoped my brief response would show her that I wasnt up for chitchat.It didnt. Im hoping to see my boy in Dallas. Do you ever go to Dallas? I hope hes OK. He had a stomach flu last week. Hes got a new dog. I cant want to see it. Its a Labrador. Do you know what that is? They are big and lovable...

"She was uncanny. Not only could she add a syllable to every word, she could answer her own questions. As we were taking off, however, she got quiet. For several moments she said nothing. Then she suddenly let out a sound that would have called the pigs for dinner. Oooooeeee, those trees down there look like peat moss! People around us stared like I was E. F. Hutton.

"What river is that? I told her I didnt know, so she flagged down a stewardess.

"When the drinks came around, I asked for a Coke; she asked for the list.Tell me again?So the stewardess told her again, Oh, its so hard to choose, she giggled.But she finally chose.

"When they brought her the drink, she exclaimed that she didnt know apple juice came in cans.

And when they brought her a sandwich, she opened the box and proclaimed loud enough for the pilot to hear, Why, they even put mayonnaise in here.

"When I pulled out my laptop computer, she was enthralled. Now isnt that clever.And that went on the whole flight.She didnt miss a thing.If she wasnt staring out the window, she was amazed by a magazine.

"If she wasnt talking, she was ooohing. She played with her fan.She turned her light on and off.She toyed with her seat belt.She savored her lunch.When we went through turbulence, I looked over at her to be sure she was all right, and she was grinning.Youd have thought she was riding the Ferris Wheel at the county fair!

"It occurred to me, about mid-journey, that she was the only person enjoying the trip.The rest of us, the sophisticated, were too mature to have fun. And as I was staring at a computer screen -- eyes tired, mouth hurting, stressed-out, trying to find a message for stress-filled people and never noticing that the message was sitting beside me.

"And I might never have noticed had she not leaned over and said to me at the end of the flight.Son, I may be out of place in saying this, but youve worked the entire trip. You need to relax, boy. You need to put that machine up and enjoy the journey. GULP."

"I smiled weakly and mumbled some excuse about needing to get the work done before tomorrow. But she wasnt listening. She was squeezing her hands together in excitement as we landed. Wasnt that a fu-un trip? she asked as we were leaving the plane.

"I didnt say anything. I just nodded and smiled. Off she walked, bouncing down the concourse as curious as a six-year-old. I watched her as long as I could, then turned to go to my next flight with a lesson learned. I resolved to keep my eyes open." Lucado concluded, "It does little good, I decided, to make the trip and miss the journey."

Most of us are so caught up with the negative stuff of life that we fail to see the good, the positive, the blessings, the excitement, and the enchantment of life. No wonder were not as happy as we could be. We need to slow down and focus on all the good stuff that is around us instead of dwelling on the negative.

Philippians 2:14 ESV Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,We Must Focus On Praising,Not Griping

A customer was bothering the waiter in a restaurant. First, he asked that the air conditioning be turned up because he was too hot, then he asked it be turned down cause he was too cold, and so on for about half an hour.

Surprisingly, the waiter was very patient as he walked back and forth and never once got angry. So finally, a second customer asked him why he didnt throw out the pest.

"Oh, I really dont care or mind," said the waiter with a smile. "We dont even have an air conditioner."

This just shows you that some people dont even know what they are complaining about. They complain just to have something to do.

Someone said, You know youre getting older when your memory is shorter and your complaining is longer.

Most of the time, our complaints are not justified and they are certainly not helpful. They are not helpful to us personally or to the people around us. They dont build up anyone or bless them.

Preacher Marvin Phillips tells about riding on a plane one time with an elderly couple seated next to him. They were talking louder than they realized and the wife was complaining, I dont like riding on these airplanes. Folks get on them with guns and knives and they take you places you dont want to go.

The womans frail little husband said, Now, honey, its gonna be all right. Marvin said I smiled. We taxied to the end of the runway and took off. It was beautiful day for flying. And I didnt think about the little lady anymore until our wheels hit down on the runway at the next airport.

At that precise moment her husband said optimistically, you see, honey, we made it all right. And she shot back, we aint there yet!

Are you like that woman? Cant see anything but the negative in most situations in life? If so, youre a thief! Youre stealing the joy out of peoples lives!

Even though most people think it is their God-given right to complain, Christian people should realize that complaining is not pleasing to God.

1 Corinthians 10:1 ESV For I want you to know brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

That doesnt sound very good, and it wasnt. God is not pleased when we gripe and complain.Especially, when we have it so good.

And besides, someone said, "Whenever you are tempted to tell your troubles to other people, remember that half your listeners arent interested, and the rest are glad youre finally getting whats coming to you."

Instead of complaining about what we dont have or what we dont like in our lives, we should look at what we do have and thank God for it!

We should praise more and complain less.

Philippians 2:14 ESV Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

The only way I know how to shine like stars in this crooked world is by being a grateful, thankful people.

Erma Bombeck is quoted as saying years ago, An estimated 1.5 million people are living today after bouts with breast cancer. Every time I forget to feel grateful to be among them, I hear the voice of an eight-year-old named Christina, who had cancer of the nervous system. When asked what she wanted for her birthday, she thought long and hard and finally said, "I dont know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything!" Bombeck said, The kid is right.

We all have a whole lot more than we realize.

Perhaps we need to spend more time thanking God and praising Him and then we just might find greater happiness in life.

John D. Rockefeller is an example of the benefits of giving. He achieved what our culture calls success. Rockefeller had amassed more wealth than he could ever spend. By the time Rockefeller was fifty-three years old his life was a wreck. Throughout his business career he said, I never placed my head upon the pillow at night without reminding myself that my success might only be temporary.We Must Focus On Giving,Not Getting

He was the richest man in the world and yet he was miserable in every sense of the word. He was sick physically, mentally, and emotionally. There was no humor or joy in his life.

Then a transformation occurred. He determined to become a giver rather than an accumulator. He began to give his millions away. He founded the Rockefeller Foundation, dedicated to fighting disease and ignorance around the world. He lived to be ninety-eight years old and was a happy man in those years because of his new and revitalized definition of success.

Giving worked for John D. Rockefeller, but does it work for us?

Norwood, Ohio, Clayborn and Joyce Chinn dont mind working the Christmas season. Its the Lords work we do the joy of giving. And as long as we have the ability, well keep doing it and taking on more, God willing said Mrs. Chinn.

From the homeless to the drug dependent to shut-ins, the Chinns have made the underprivileged their mission. Working hard to brighten the holidays for the needy, Joyce and Clayborn Chinn collect donated goods each year. We like to bring a little joy to people during the Christmas season. Doing it is our Christmas, Mrs. Chinn said.

At the nursing homes, we dress as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, said Mr. Chinn, 66, a retired General Electric machinist. We drop off the personal hygiene products, and let their staffs deliver those because some people are allergic to some things.What Mr. and Mrs. Chinn do sounds like a pretty extreme form of giving to most of us, but Im not sure we can ever give too much of our money for a good cause or too much of ourselves. It always comes back to you!

Proverbs 11:17 ESV A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.Proverbs 11:24 ESV One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.When we fail to give of ourselves and of the goods that God has given us, we fail ourselves.We cheat ourselves. And perhaps this is why so many people are miserable.

Acts 20:35 ESV In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"If you are not as happy or joyful as you think you should be, perhaps there is a very good reason.

Dennis Wholey, author of "Are You Happy?" reports that according to expert opinion, only 20 percent of Americans are happy.

One prominent psychiatrist said, "Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children and by children to adults."Conclusion

In other words, happiness is something that we think someone else has.

We think or say, "He must be happy. Look at his job.

Look at the car he drives, the house he lives in, the money he has, etc."

I think happiness boils down to a proper focus.We must focus on eternity, not earth. People, not possessions.Service, not self.Gods grace, not our goodness.The Spirit, not the flesh.Positives, not negatives.Praising, not griping.And giving, not getting.