Holy Happiness - Part 4

Each session of this series we have asked: What makes you happy?  And, as a Christian: What should make you happy?

In session one, we learned three actions that, if we are obedient to them, bring us happiness: to 1) Fear God; 2) Trust God; and, 3) Obey God.  In session two, we saw that pursuing the path of Wisdom brings happiness/blessedness to God’s children.  In session three we saw an example of a group of people who experienced Holy Happiness: the Israelites.  Moses reminded them they could have Holy Happiness because they lived under God’s Protection and Provision.

In this session, I want to look at another Biblical example of one who experienced Holy Happiness.  This person is from the Old Testament; though the passage about him I will use is in the New Testament.

Who from the Old Testament would you consider to have experienced Holy Happiness?

The one we are going to look at may surprise you…it’s Job.  Job, who lost his wealth, his family, his health…he who experienced such suffering and pain (emotionally and physically)…the Bible says Job experienced Holy Happiness!

Are you surprised?  Why do you think the Bible would say Job experienced Holy Happiness?

It was NOT because all his wealth, family and health were restored…even to greater levels than before.  We think that though, don’t we?  We think: “Sure Job was happy, at the end, when he had been blessed and had received back so much.” 

But the Bible is clear, the restored wealth, family and health were the result…but something else was the reason.

Do you know why Job really experienced Holy Happiness?

Let’s find out.

You should read James 5:7-11.  But for this lesson, I want to focus only on verses 10-11.

“Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience.  See, we count as blessed those who have endured.  You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome from the Lord: the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”  (James 5:10-11)

In verse 10, James is talking about suffering and patience.  Not two words we would usually associate with being happy!

As we wait for the Lord’s return, there will be times of suffering – sometimes, intense suffering.  Through these times we are to be patient.  He IS coming; and He is coming SOON!

Don’t think you can do it?  Don’t think you can make it?  Just check-out the Old Testament prophets, James says.  Read about them; study their lives; they made it, so can you.

How did they make it?  Was a there a secret?  Is there something I should know – that I should learn from their example – that will help me?

Yes; there is.  We find it in verse 11.

 “We count as blessed those who have ____________”  What?

Those who have ENDURED.  Then James gives an example:  “You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome from the Lord…” 

It’s Job!  James chooses Job.  Think about this: of all the Old Testament guys, he chooses Job as an example of one who experienced Holy Happiness.  “We count as blessed…you’ve heard of Job…”

In giving us the example of Job, he reminds us of the necessary ingredient we must possess to walk in Holy Happiness.  He states it clearly.  It is: ENDURANCE.

If you are going to be a disciple of Jesus – that is, a Christian – then you are going to experience suffering; and there are going to be times when you will have to exercise extraordinary patience.

What is “patience THROUGH suffering?”  Endurance.

James makes it clear (as do many other passages in the Bible): Endurance leads to Holy Happiness.

A text note in my Bible indicates you could use the word “persevered” in place of “endurance.”  Does that help you understand the concept?  “We count as blessed those who have persevered.”

“Suffering with patience”  -  “endurance”  -  “perseverance” This is why Job experienced Holy Happiness; why the Old Testament prophets did, according to James.  When life was tough, they persevered, they endured.

As a result they were blessed.  James says: “We count them as blessed…”

Our example – Job – teaches us that Holy Happiness – true, deep-seated happiness in this life – is possible for those who endure; for those who are patient through the suffering; for those who persevere.

In case there are any doubters, James reminds us: “[we] have seen the outcome from the Lord.”

Remember, Job ended up being very blessed with greater wealth, a larger family, and restored health.  Endurance – persevering through trials – is necessary to walk in Holy Happiness.