Jim Moss - May 22, 2022
God Wants Me to be Happy
Love Lies - God Wants Me to Be Happy Sunday, May 22nd James 1:2-5 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 24A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:11 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. The Pleasure Hunt – the attempt to find happiness and satisfaction in physical or sensual gratification. Ecclesiastes 2:2 Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure? Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine… Ecclesiastes 2:3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. Ecclesiastes 2:10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. Psalms 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Measure Hunt: When we measure happiness and satisfaction in terms of accomplishment or success. Ecclesiastes 2:4-7 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. The Treasure Hunt The attempt to find happiness and satisfaction in material possessions. Ecclesiastes 2:8-9 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.” Ecclesiastes 2:25 For without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? Psalms 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him