Just so they are Happy, 1

Articles

Larry Walker
02/16/16 - Faithful Happiness

“Just So They Are Happy” (1)

How often have you heard someone, in all seriousness, speak about someone’s questionable choices, pronounce, “Well, as long as they are happy…”

“God is love” (I John 4) – has led some to conclude that God just wants everyone to be happy – and by that they mean, have a trouble-free, fun-filled, enjoyable life, irrespective of their moral and spiritual state. They cannot fathom God in any other way – Lord let my life by easy, filled with good things…

This way of thinking leads us blindly down the wrong path. When anything painful or upsetting happens, then we think God must not be acting any more, or his power is limited, or he doesn’t exist!

But God has a higher purpose. He never pledged to give fallen men/women enjoyment and ease. Not even Christians are promised a trouble-free life. He has wiser designs than that. Whether we are comfortable and “happy” or not, he has promised that he will work to our spiritual welfare, he will teach us to love and honor him, to enjoy his creation and to use it to glorify him. And working toward this, he will allow us to undergo trial and hardship, even sore suffering – to teach us how to seek him. Now of course, we can refuse that – and most men and women DO refuse it. But HE is still working to teach us something higher and nobler.

We are talking about God’s providence – how he works, day by day, hour by hour, in the lives of men and women – ever putting before us opportunities to learn of him, draw closer to him, glorify him. He may do this by blessings richly bestowed. He may do it by relieving suffering and delivering from evil. But he may also do it by illness, grief, loss, tribulation, poverty, and weakness.

Abraham illustrates this so well in the Old Testament. The man who would become the “father of the faithful” was not really a picture of strength. His moral courage failed him and he deceived – more than once – about his wife to protect his own skin. He was vulnerable to pressure – giving in to Sarah’s own weakness and vengeful spirit. He also questioned God, doubted, tried to “help God out” in the fulfillment of the promise.

What Abraham needed was to learn that God is always present, and powerful and active. He needed to LIVE in God’s presence day by day. God taught him to do this.

Gen 15:1 – Do not be afraid. I am your shield and your exceeding great reward.

Gen 17:1 – I am God almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.

Little by little he led Abraham to be a man of God. Surely Abraham had to learn to put his trust in him. And God counted it as righteousness. He learned meekness, learned patience, he learned dignity, righteousness, to be a man of prayer. So devoted to God’s will he knew that if his son was sacrificed, God could raise him from the dead! God made him a new man!

What did it take on Abraham’s part – faith! Abandonment of his own will to the conviction that God reigns, and He is working to the salvation of his people! How wisely God taught this lesson to Abraham – by his mercy and grace. How well Abraham learned this lesson. Not by his “happiness”, but by trial and sacrifice and struggle and bitter tears. And yet with all this, Abraham rejoiced in God. And God called Abraham his friend! (to be continued…) Larry Walker, August 2011