When Will I Be Happy?
- Rev. Eric Kapur
- Jun 10, 2009
- Series: Philippians - Summer 09
- Media Links
- Subscribe
When Will I Be Happy?
In 1776, our nation boldly declared its revolutionary aim to create a new society which allowed for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" for the greatest number of people. After over 240 years of pursuing happiness, how have we done? Are we happier than people were 240 years ago? Do we have a better idea of what happiness is?
Almost 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul wrote a revolutionary document called the letter to the Philippians. In this letter, he claimed that something even greater than happiness should be the object of our pursuit. He claimed that this something could not be found in better life circumstances, in the best Rome had to offer, in religious endeavors or in increased self-esteem. He claimed that he had found the secret to happiness by finding something far greater than the kind of happiness all these things offered. What was that something? It was a someone - Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from a jail cell (probably in Rome). He wrote amidst attacks on his character and ministry. He was weary from 20 years of hard travel and opposition to his message. Yet he was happy. Maybe happy isn't the best word. He was joyful. The apostle was joyful as the gospel message about Jesus invaded his heart and the hearts of those he touched.
The Reformation Study Bible points out these important features of the letter:
- Different expressions point to joy at least 16 times in the letter.
- The Greek word translated "to feel" occurs 10 times in Philippians, proportionately more than any other Pauline letter.
- The word "gospel" occurs 9 times in Philippians - proportionately more than any other Pauline letter.
When we combine these 3 insights we find that the Gospel is the message about Jesus that answers the question, "When will I be happy?" The Gospel transforms our pursuit of happiness into our acceptance of God's gift of joy in all that Jesus has done and will do for us.
As we walk through the entire letter this summer, we'll be unpacking how the apostle Paul points us beyond superficial happiness to lasting joy in the gospel. The letter will challenge us all - Christian and non-Christian - to examine where we look for happiness and how we can find Gospel joy in all aspects of our lives. Here are the different topics we'll cover:
Ch 1: When Will I Be Happy with My Life? (Circumstances)
Ch 2: When Will I Be Happy with Others? (Relationships)
Ch 3: When Will I Be Happy with God? (Religion)
Ch 4: When Will I Be Happy with Myself? (Self-acceptance)
As you read Philippians and listen to the sermons, be willing to ask yourself, "Do I know the kind of joy the apostle is talking about?" "If not, where am I looking for happiness?" And be open to talking to others about where they look for happiness and discussing how Philippians might bring a whole new way of going about "the pursuit of happiness"
What others have said about Philippians...
"Above all, a quality of quiet joy pervades the letter" (Luke Timothy Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament)
"Philippians is the most consistently positive of Paul's epistles. It reflects a joyful spirit" (Bailey and Constable, Nelson's NT Survey)
"...the theme of joy that runs throughout Philippians has had a profound influence on Christians through the centuries, drawing them back to this letter again and again (G.F. Hawthorne, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters)
"the sum of the whole letter: I rejoice, rejoice!" (D.J.A Bengel)