Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The illusions and misconceptions that people have concerning happiness. .
Wednesday, June 6, 2001
Illusion = an erroneous perception of reality or an erroneous concept or belief; the condition of being deceived by a false perception or belief.
OBA 1:3 “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,”
(a) You cannot build your happiness on the details of life: money, success, pleasure, social life, health, sex, or status symbols.
(b) You cannot build your happiness on a pleasant environment or a change of environment.
(c) You cannot build your happiness on people, romance, marriage, friendship or children.
(d) You cannot build your happiness on someone else’s unhappiness.
All believers, winners or losers, receive logistical grace down the grace pipeline to the indwelling righteousness of God.
MAT 5:45 “For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
ECC 12:13-14 “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”
(e) Pseudo happiness depends on the environment and superficial pleasures of life; it is self-gratification related to the lust pattern of the old sin nature.
ECC 2:1 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was vanity.
(f) Pseudo happiness is superficial, changeable, unstable, frustrating, and temporary; it’s the source of self-induced misery and limited to this life, PSA 17:14, LUK 16:25.
LUK 16:25 But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.”
Uncertain, LUK 12:20. Vain, ECC 2:1; ECC 7:6. From wealth, PSA 52:7.
From power, PSA 37:35. From worldly prosperity, PSA 17:14. From gluttony, ISA 22:13.
Drunkenness, ISA 56:12. Vain pleasure, ISA 5:12. Successful oppression, HAB 1:15.
Foolish people get married because someone promises to make them happy forever; or because they want to leave the environment of an unhappy home.
Both the poor and the rich, the single and married are unhappy, looking to the other side for happiness.
If you really want to experience happiness, you don’t need to add riches to your life but you need to have certain desires removed.
PHI 4:11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
PHI 4:12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
PHI 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.