|
 Did
you ever see a man fishing in the desert? Casting a lure into a
cholia patch; stretching a trot-line across a dry wash? No,
because fish do not live in the desert; it is not their element.
But I have seen men looking for happiness in a bottle -- with as
little success, and for the same reason. Happiness does not come
in bottles, or cans, or draft.
Happiness
is a state or condition of mind; secured by a wide variety of
things, properly used. Since the benefit depends upon the use,
happiness really comes from within the benefactor, and
"things" are but tools which may or may not produce
the desired results. However, experience has associated certain
"things" with happiness; among them: long life,
friends, sense of purpose or direction, health, wealth, and
love. And the wise man, Solomon, tells us where to seek all of
these wonderful ingredients. Open your Bible to Prov. 3: and
proceed.
Vs.1-2:
Length of days and years, with peace, depend upon proper
respect for law, or teaching. They are not found in anarchy or
rebellion. It is authority, not "hippy freedom" that
promises long useful life.
Vs.3-4:
Favor, and more important, being "understood" (here is
true friendship) must be earned with kindness and truth
(love and fidelity) on our part. A friendless man is not being
cheated by the world; he has failed to give society the
"makings" (Ask Bull Durham what that means.)
Vs.5-6:
Lacking a goal, we wander aimless and hapless. Foolish pride and
self-centeredness only compound our
|
|
misery. "Trust in Jehovah with all
thy heart... and He will direct thy paths."
Vs.
7-8: Dissipation is sin; and all evil is in conflict with the
physical tabernacle which houses our immortal soul. Although a
sin-cursed world affects even the pure in it, we must
"depart from evil" for health.
Vs.
9-10: The man who thinks he would generous be, if wealth should
be his lot; should ask himself what he's doing now, with the
dollar and a quarter he's got (One of my better poems!). When we
shovel out, God shovels in (2 Cor. 9:6) and God has a bigger
shovel. "Honor Jehovah with thy substance….so shall
thy barns be filled….."
Vs.
11-12: And for real love, a love that sees our faults and
reprimands for our sakes, we must submit to
the authority of heaven. Worldly "friends" will not
understand this change in us -- they'll "think it strange
that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot -- (1 Pet.
4:1-5) and we may have to "suffer as a Christian"
(vs.12-19) but God's love will more than suffice for our
suffering.
HAPPY
IS THE MAN THAT FINDETH WISDOM, AND THE MAN THAT GETTETH
UNDERSTANDING. If you have read Prov. 3:1-12, and given serious
thought to the points suggested above -- as taken from the text
-- you are now ready to read Prov. 3:13-18: and "the fear
of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; (Prov. 1:7; Eccl.
12:13-14)
HAPPINESS
IS WITH GOD ALMIGHTY!
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
