Only a Moment
As Christians, we are blessed and nothing can change that!
We have a source and path for true, deep and lasting happiness – a sense of blessedness. Even the worst trials and troubles in this life cannot rob us of our Holy Happiness.
But what about people who are not followers of Christ and yet seem so happy? In fact, sometimes they seem very happy! What about them? What are they experiencing?
This is important. Many Christians become frustrated and discouraged when they seek to faithfully obey and serve God, and then see those who have nothing to do with God seemingly living with such happiness. Questions naturally occur: Is it worth it? Why are they happy? Should I just quit trying and be more like them?
So I want to look at the happiness of those who don’t know God. Since such people are unholy, not being in right relationship with God, I'll call their happiness: Un-Holy Happiness! Once we look at it, I think you will never again want the kind of happiness they seem to enjoy.
The unrighteous, the un-holy, who seem to be so happy can have a very alluring impact on many of us. As a culture, we often idolize and want to be like these people. Movie stars, sports figures and societal leaders have money. They can travel. They have big houses and fancy cars, private jets and luxury yachts. They have a lifestyle we don’t. And they don’t have the problems, particularly the financial ones that we have (or so we think).
Surely, if anyone is happy, it is them.
Really? Do you ever read or hear the news? One day, any day, pay attention and you will see that even the most wealthy or “successful” are being arrested; or are in financial, marital or some other type of trouble. They smile on the red carpet; but not so much as the paparazzi hound them, or in their police photos.
Look…and you don’t even have to look that close…and you will see that they really do not seem to be very happy. Though they may appear ecstatic at times; most of their lives seem empty, lonely and often, rather sad. They don’t have a sense of lasting happiness.
So the first truth we need to understand is: Un-Holy Happiness is short-lived.
In the Bible, Job was a man of great wealth and many blessings. He also was a righteous man. And God loved him and was proud of him! In fact, one day when Satan was in God’s presence, God made a point of asking him if he had observed faithful Job:
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.” (Job 1:8)
Satan, of course, just sneered and responded:
“Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are spread out in the land. But stretch out Your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” (Job 1:10-11)
God knew better – He knew Job, and He knew Job’s heart. So He gave Satan permission to test Job by taking away all his wealth and possessions, even his family. And later, God gave Satan permission to take away Job’s health, just not to kill him. And through all of these trials Job remained faithful. He never did curse God as Satan had predicted!
During this distressing time, Job had three friends come sit with him to offer comfort and support. He was suffering so, that for seven days they sat with him and no one spoke. And then they began.
If you know the book of Job, then you know his three friends did not understand what was happening in Job’s life, or why it was happening. They assumed he had done something to make God mad. If only he would examine himself and repent, then God would forgive him and make things better. The only problem with their logic and advice was that it was totally wrong! But they meant well.
During one of their discourses, Zophar spoke about un-holy people and their experience on earth. And even though his advice to Job was wrong, he was right in his comments about the un-holy; particularly when discussing their happiness.
Don’t you know that ever since antiquity, from [the time] man was placed on the earth, the joy of the wicked has been brief and the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment? (Job 20:4)
Experience and observation are great teachers; if we will just pay attention to them. Both teach us that happiness is fleeting. What we have experienced and observed in others demonstrates time and time again that happiness does not last. At least, not the kind of happiness the world knows of and daily seeks.
The emotion of happiness, like tides at the beach, rises and falls. Sometimes we feel so happy! And one thing can happen and we quickly feel unhappy! Or, time just passes and we notice the elation has ebbed.
All emotions are this way – they ebb and flow. Only Christians have Holy Happiness deep within; that deep-seated sense of being blessed. Non-Christians do not have this happiness. They only have access to the emotional happiness.
So when bad things happen, what do you suppose happens to their happiness?
We all know the answer. We’ve experienced it (at the emotional level); and have observed it in others. When bad things happen, the emotion of happiness becomes like the ocean at low tide: it’s out! Something else is felt in its place. Our surface level emotion has changed.
The important difference is the non-Christian has nothing deeper. They may have money, glamour, fortune and fame; but they do not have a deeper place within, filled with a sense of being a blessed child of God. When their surface level, emotional happiness ebbs, they have nothing else. Sad, isn’t it?
It is true, what Zophar said: “the joy of the wicked has been brief and the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment.”
Zophar gives four reasons why: “the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment.”
He focuses on the wealthy in this discourse for two reasons: (1) Job was wealthy, and Zophar is trying to influence Job; and (2) we seem to admire and idolize the wealthy and mighty. We are prone to think, “If anyone is happy, it is them.” Zophar wants us to understand that even the wealthy and mighty, if they are godless, have happiness that last only for a moment. For if this is true for them, then it must be true for each of us. Indeed each person, whether poor or wealthy, unknown or famous, weak or mighty, it rightly can be said…
I. He will vanish.
Though his arrogance reaches heaven, and his head touches the clouds, he will vanish forever like his own dung. Those who know him will ask, “Where is he?” (Job 20:6-7)
Life is fleeting…even for the prideful and wealthy. Sooner or later (and for most of us it is probably sooner rather than later, and for almost all of us it will be sooner than we want to think about) our physical life in this body will end.
It’s almost humorous the way Zophar describes this person: “…his arrogance reaches heaven, and his head touches the clouds…” This sounds just like the famous in our society today. They really do think rather highly of themselves. Of course, this isn’t just a problem for the famous.
But look at what he compares them to next: “…he will vanish forever like his own dung.” So much for thinking high and mighty about yourself! You are as important and as lasting as… poop!
If one’s happiness is based on one’s life or importance, then ones’ happiness will end. It will end soon. And it will, from eternity’s perspective, have “…lasted only a moment.”
II. His children will beg.
His children will beg from the poor, for his own hands must give back his wealth. (Job 20:10)
I really do not like the commercials that show starving children. I understand they do that to touch us emotionally so we will respond and send money. And maybe many are viable and honest agencies doing good work. But I still don’t like the images.
Does anyone enjoy seeing a child beg for food? Imagine it was your own child; your own children. How would you feel seeing them begging for food out on the streets?
Could anything be worse? Maybe something could; but not many things.
The rich man who Zophar describes must “give back his wealth.” If this does not mean he will lose some or all of it in this life, then it certainly applies when he dies. It will not be his anymore. It will pass into someone else’s hands. And wealth – even great wealth – divided down through multiple generations easily becomes depleted.
If a person is depending upon their wealth for happiness, they will be disappointed. Imagine how happy they will feel looking back from eternity to see their children (coming generations) begging from the poor! Truly, they will even admit their happiness “…lasted only a moment.”
III. He will not enjoy
He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he doesn’t enjoy the profits from his trading. (Job 20:17-18)
This wealthy person does not even get to enjoy his own wealth! Zophar is clear: “…he doesn’t enjoy the profits from his trading.” Perhaps he is too consumed with obtaining even more. Certainly that is true for many who already have much today. Perhaps his striving for wealth has left him in old age weak, spent, or alone, having neglected family and friends.
Perhaps for some there is regret; a crises of conscience. Zophar says some “…oppressed and abandoned the poor…[and] seized a house he did not build” (vs. 19).
Whatever the reason for not being able to enjoy the profits and wealth gained, the result is the same. He too will say: “…my happiness…lasted only a moment.”
IV. His prosperity will not last.
Nothing is left for him to consume; therefore, his prosperity will not last. At the height of his success distress will come to him; the full weight of misery will crush him. (Job 20:21-22)
This is not pretty. And maybe it is even a little surprising; especially compared to how we idealize the lives of the rich and famous. But isn’t this true?
We see examples all the time of rich, famous, powerful people who are miserable. Drugs, alcohol, meaningless relationships, extravagant purchases…all this and so much more are desperate attempts to find one thing.
Do you know what that one thing is? Answer: lasting happiness.
They have a type of happiness. But they have found it fleeting and finicky. It is a disappointing happiness. It is Un-Holy Happiness and it is short-lived.
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