Theme: SPIRITUAL KEYS TO HAPPINESS
Text: And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13) “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” – Leviticus 19:18.
Comment: The reason why many people are unhappy is that they have not discovered their purpose in life. Such ones feel empty within, even directionless; They could even commit suicide. Our Lord Jesus Christ made it clear that to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves are the basic laws man has to keep by virtue of which man would find fulfillment, satisfaction and happiness. That way the world becomes a peaceful and happy place to live in. In other words, to be happy one must be spiritually minded. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6) For “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22, 23.
One should do only those things that would please the Creator and avoid doing anything that would hurt one’s fellow man. Wickedness undermines one’s well being and does not give happiness. “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22) However, righteousness makes one a happy person. “…For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God…” – Ecclesiastes 2:24-26. Compare Romans 6:20-22