Happy, Happy, Happy!

Many of you that watch the hit A&E reality show "Duck Dynasty" know that is the motto or catch phrase of Phil Robertson, the founder of Duck Commander and the patriarch on the show. He often says that in order tell everyone if they do this, then everyone involved will be "Happy, Happy, Happy!" However, the question comes to me, in life what truly makes you "Happy, Happy, Happy?"

Many normal Americans will automatically say being secure, whether it be money, stuff, safe home or sometimes replacements for the security that is given to us by our parents with sex, alcohol or drugs. I have come here on this blog to tell you, you are wrong. If you are a believer in Christ then you should be happy anyways but I know that the "American Dream" tells you that the more stuff and the more "successful" that you are the happier you will be.

Well lets what take a look at what the Bible says will be the keys to a happy and successful life. It isn't the biggest house, the largest income of your friends, the nicest car or the largest television. It is living life like Christ. Looking for people to minister too in your own community and providing for those who have less than you when you have more than you can ever have. You don't really need a new car, but it sure is nice to have. You don't need to make more money than your friends, but you sure would like to. You don't need the largest television but man it sure makes it cool to watch movies and sports.

The main problem is as Americans we have been blessed. Blessed so well that many of us are in the top 5% of income earners in the world. We have access to transportation, and it is easy to find a Dollar General or Wal-mart just about anywhere now a days, so access to places to buy "stuff" is generally only 30 minutes away at the most. The interesting thing is that instead of being content many of us are trying to get ahead. Make more money, work more hours and end up flat out overworking ourselves for the equivalent of what? 20 extra inches on the television, a ATV, Jet Ski? You get the point we are working ourselves to death for stuff we really don't need.

Do you remember the children's book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie."? If you recall, the mouse was given a cookie and once ate the cookie he asked for a glass of milk. After he received the glass of milk he asked for a straw. The story keeps going on and on with the mouse asking for more and more stuff to go with the items that he is receiving. This is a common problem with Americans. They make all this money and get one thing and that one thing needs this and that and next thing you know you have racked up credit card bills, mortgages and car payments and you can't seem to find a way out. The truth is "enough is really never enough."

Well what does the Bible say about this "Love of Money" or "Keeping up with the Jones." Hebrews 13:5 reads as follows "Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you." (HCSB) Why do we constantly think we need to go out and get more security in stuff when God, through Jesus has clearly said that he will provide for you. Why do we continually lack the faith to trust that God will provide for you?

The answer in short is simple, we have been taught to do what is best for you in our society. Lean into our own understanding if you will. I know your thinking, wait that's a Bible verse. Yep it is and here it is Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and do not rely on your own understanding think about Him in all your ways,and He will guide you on the right paths.(HCSB) This verse spells it out for us, trust in the Lord (not yourself or possessions) think about him and he will direct you on the way you should go.

I know that it is hard sometimes that we have to put our trust in someone that we can't see but that's why we must have faith. Faith that God will show us his will, Faith that God will give us security, Faith that he will provide for you. This is one of the main reasons many Christians don't tithe. They don't think they can get by each month without doing so. I was one that thought tithing wasn't that important, but when I was in college I decided that I should start. When I did, my bills at the University of Missouri were getting paid and I had money left over. Whenever I thought that I couldn't tithe it was getting hard for me to find money to pay any bill. God showed me that when I tithed, I was trusting 10% to my Lord and Savior and he was rewarding me back. (Enough preaching on that topic)

The last verse that I will bring to the forefront is Matthew 6:19-20 and it reads as follows, “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal." This verse is pretty self explanatory once you dive into it. Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, because moth's and rust destroy your stuff(nothing last forever, well except a John Deere 4020) and thieves will break and steal your property. Instead you should collect treasures in heaven (getting saved and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ) because nothing can destroy or steal that once you make that decision or someone makes that decision.

So to wrap up, where are you investing your money and your time? Are you investing it in the world, in stuff that will ultimately fade and be gone or are you investing your money and time in eternal things? Are you living for your eternal life or are you living for next week? Are you stocking up treasures for eternity or are you stocking up needless possessions that you will just need to upgrade in a year or two? I hope that you are reasonably doing both, because being a good steward of both is what God really wants. He entrust you to take care of what he has given you, so don't waste this opportunity.

Just give me money, that's what I want!

I came to a realization today after reading a book called "Weird" by Craig Groeshcel (Which I recommend you read) when he talked about how as Americans we are always wanting more. Income, Stuff, money. More; More; More; More. And guess what I am as guilty as anyone else.

As a Christian, for one, I should not be worried about money. I should have faith that God will provide for me. I should not or ever need to worry about my money or if there will be enough or if I can live on that money.

My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6, and it says "do not be anxious about anything, but in everthing by prayer and supplication (Supplication is a prayer asking the Lord to provide things) with thanksgiving let your requests be made to God" ESV

This verse is fairly simple if we break it down. Don't worry about anything. Simple stop worrying, God wants you to trust him and not on yourself.

In everything with prayer take your request to God. Okay, just as simple: Pray everyday and don't be afraid to take your request to God.

I remember when I was little and I was afraid to pray for myself. Mostly because I felt guilty when I would pray what I called selfish prayers. Well this last verse said that we should pray for everything including ourselves. Now this doesn't mean that if you are going to pray for that video games system or a new car that God is some magical Genie that grants wishes on command. That is just not how God works or how it should work.

You can pray for your needs, like health and money needs, but don't think that just because you ask for it God has to answer your prayer. It may just not be part of his will. Also, without faith in God your prayers none of your requests will fall on deaf ears.

Now, there are a few other verses on prayer so I want to take a look at those.

James 5:16 says "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" ESV

You may wonder why your prayers may not be working or getting answered. James lays it out very clearly in the last scripture. Righteous men have great power in their prayer. You may ask, "What is righteous? It is defined as being upright or exhibiting high morality.

Now I know that the word righteous can set many people off. Some people interpret is as someone who is religious and that looks down on others by pointing out their downfalls. Well that's not even close by definition. Those folks are judgmental jerks and those people are really Christian Atheist by all accounts.

Let's look at 1st John 1:9. It says the following, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ESV

In James 5:16 we just got done talking about how an unrighteous men's prayers aren't powerful but God gives us a way out of that. If we confess our sins (sounds like 1st John 1:9 doesn't it) daily, and give up those to the Lord, because he is faithful and just he will forgive us of our sins. How great is our God! He loves us so much that he expects perfection and forgives us ultimately because he knows that we can't always live up to that expectation, because we are all sinners.

Now let's look at John 14:13-14 and it says, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." ESV

This helps to wrap up this blog, if we get close to God and are righteous and ask God to work in our lives within his will in mind. He will meet our needs and follow through with our requests. So, are you close enough to God that you talk to him everyday, or is it a Facebook friendship? One that you only see his status updates to keep in touch. I hope you are the first of the two.