To Be Truly Happy, We Must Be Holy
Do you believe that the truly holy people of our day are the happiest? In our current age, that seems counterintuitive. We associate holiness with fun sucking, traditional, no smile types of people. Who drink their coffee black and can’t come watch the soccer match because they are praying for 8 hours. But if you can leave the baggage of the word holiness behind, could you say that you desire holiness, as your God in heaven is holy?
Let me ask you the question again. Do you believe that the people who pursue holiness are the happiest? I would venture to say they are. As I look into my own soul, I can say that the times I’ve pursued holiness the most are the times I’ve been the happiest. With that said, if I am honest, I don’t want to write that sentence… because it sounds too easy. Too simplistic. I’ll give you a really raw example of how this is actually not simplistic though.
The Lie We Are Fed Is That Holiness Will Rob Us Of Pleasure
The other day I was sitting at Starbucks alone. I saw this couple come in and immediately felt all kinds of frustration because I wanted what they had. Sinful whispers sat on my shoulder and said softly: “You love God? He cares nothing about you, you’re alone. Go look at some porn or find a friend to have sex with. That’ll make you happy. Screw your God. Indulge in lustful thoughts and enjoy yourself because your God has slighted you.”
Still simplistic? Not at all. In that moment temptation was whispering to me, “holiness will not make you happy. Sin will.” If you pursue holiness and obedience to God you will be robbed of pleasure and will sit in Starbucks alone. That’s what I was being told. And isn’t this why the caricature of “holiness” is made fun of? As a prude or a boring person who is so Christianly, they are no fun? Because we all actually believe that there is a certain level of holiness that is good, but we can’t be too holy because then we might be robbed of all kinds of pleasure… the pleasure we will be asked to give up if we pursue holiness. I’ll be Christian enough to get the benefits, but don’t ask too much of me. I’ll ask again: Do you believe that pursuing holiness will make you happier?
What Kind of Happiness?
I think the key to answering our question, is asking another question. Will holiness make you happier? It depends on what kind of happiness you are after. Psalm 1 says:
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
The word blessed is used 26 times in the Psalms. Many translations will change the word “blessed” to happy. That’s not an awful translation, but I feel that it is lacking because of our current cultural understanding of the word happy means. What do we mean when we say the word happy in a biblical context? Here is how I would describe it. A joyful state of heart that recognizes the beauty and worth of God and his mighty love and grace poured out on us. It’s the kind of awe and wonder and humble joy that settles over you when you know… I am a sinner. But God loves me. He died for me. He is for me, not against me. He forgives me of all my sins. He cares for me and knows my every pain and sadness. He is my shepherd and will watch over me. He is sovereign over my life and leading me. Because of these realities, I am blessed. (Or happy)
Can you say with David in Psalm 1 - “Happy am I, because I do not walk in the ways of sinfulness, my delight is in the law of the lord.” There is a sweet joy when the burden of temptation lands on you, and you pursue holiness instead of sin.
Back in that Starbucks, when those temptations whispered to me. I had a choice. Will I think impure thoughts? Or will I cast them away and trust God? I’ve lived long enough to have traveled both those roads. One promises easy, quick, imitation pleasure. But it always leads to sadness, hurt, and broken relationships with God and others. (That would be sin) And the other road, though difficult, always leads to happiness. Not always initially. And its road is not without its burdens and difficulties. But I have always been happier when I’ve chosen to follow God in obedience, then when I’ve chosen to sin. And in that moment, I choose obedience and was happier for it. I felt closer to God. I felt kinder, that I had more self control. And I also know the deep pains and wounds that can come from sexual sin, and part of the joy in holiness is that God is trying to keep us from the pains of sin. He is not trying to rob us.
Seek Holiness For Your Joy
So, my friends. Do you want to be truly happy? Well then, you must be holy. Don’t get the wrong impression though. Fighting sin is not the ultimate end. It's not the point of Christianity. The goal of a Christian is to enjoy and love and treasure and worship and glorify Jesus Christ, the son of God. The reason we fight sin is because sin gets in the way of treasuring God.
Sin will never lead to ultimate happiness. It may be joyful for a season, but it will always crack open its ugly contents. Shame, guilt, divorce, affairs, emptiness, isolation, rejection, and broken relationship with God. But there is a sweet intimacy with Jesus that can be found in humble obedience. Being an increasingly older male that is single is not easy in this day and age. But I can truly say, every time I’ve chosen obedience, God has met me with more joy than I have ever found in sinful ways. It’s not been easy, but it is worth it. Because in my imperfect obedience I get more of God.
So don’t give up pursuing holiness. We are to be set apart as Christians. We are to be pure. We won’t be perfect, but we are to strive after Jesus. It’s never too late to be obedient. And if you’ve been unfaithful and you’ve made sinful choices in your past, do not despair. I’ve been learning a simple truth as I’ve read through the New Testament in 2019. It is simply this: “Get back up again and follow Jesus”. Trust that every unholy moment you’ve had is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfectly holy one. And strive after that holiness too, because you get more of Him in the process… and that is what makes us happy.
Concluding Thoughts - A Paradox
Finding happiness in pursuing holiness seems like a paradox. But then again, so are the words of Jesus:
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25)
The way to life (true happiness), according to Jesus, is not through self-indulgence and self-centeredness. But self-denial. The way to save your life… is to lose it. The way to be happy… is to be holy.
Seeking to be holy in public life and in private life,
Josh.
