a happy life
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A HAPPY LIFEA HAPPY LIFE1 Peter 3:8-12
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What is happiness?What is happiness?• World’s definition:
– Fame, fortune, glory; self-fulfillment and self-satisfaction
– Must not confuse the pleasures of sin with real happiness
– Sin destroys happiness, Prov. 13:15• God’s definition, 1 Pet. 3:10-12
(Matt. 5:3-12)• God wants our happiness – As He
defines it, Eccl. 3:12-13; 9:7-9
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What is happiness?What is happiness?•State of mind; attitude of
heart (Prov. 23:7) – More than emotion; decision
of the mind•Christian’s happiness:
– Right thinking about life– Forgiveness of sins– Trust the promises of God
-Jno. 14:1, 27; 16:22, 33; 2 Cor. 6:10-
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What is happiness?What is happiness?•Build a happy life by building
faith in God– Set your hope on God, Heb.
13:5-6– Learn happiness by trusting
God, Phil. 4:10-13– Count your blessings, Eph. 1:3
(Phil. 4:4)
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting Happiness, Eccl.
1:13; 2:3•Pleasure, Eccl. 2:1-2
– Sorrow in laughter, Prov. 14:13– Pleasure is passing, Heb. 11:25;
Lk. 12:19– Can distort one’s view of life
and death, Eccl. 7:2-4
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting Happiness
•Possessions, Eccl. 2:4-11 (Lk. 12:15-21)– Tends to isolate, 4:7-8– No satisfaction…more anxiety,
Eccl. 5:10-12; 1 Tim. 6:10– Great possessions, yet great
sorrow, Matt. 19:21-22
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting Happiness
•Wisdom, Eccl. 2:12-17– Trusting our own wisdom is
foolish, 1 Cor. 3:18– Death still comes, 2:14– Divine wisdom needed, 8:16-17;
1 Cor. 1:21
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting Happiness
•Labor, Eccl. 2:18-23 (24)– Whose shall it be? 2:18-19
(Lk. 12:20)– Elements of despair, 2:20;
5:13-17– Good, but not for ultimate
happiness, 1 Ths. 4:11-12
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting Happiness
•Success, Eccl. 4:4-6– Often envied, 4:4– While working to succeed we
must learn to be content with what our labor provides, 1 Tim. 6:6-8
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting Happiness
•Fulfilling desire, Eccl. 6:7-9– Never satisfied when desire
rules– Our desires must be godly &
controlled by contented faith, Phil. 4:11-13
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Things Neededto be Happy in Life
•Fear & obey God, Eccl. 12:13 (Psa. 128:1-2)
•Address sin in God’s way, Acts 2:41-42; 16:27, 34
•Seek first the things of God, Matt. 6:33 (1 Pet. 3:10-12)
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Things Needed to be Happy in Life
•Pray often, 1 Jno. 5:14 (Phil. 4:4-7)
•Count your blessings, 1 Tim. 6:7-8
•Patient faith, Isa. 40:27-31 (1 Pet. 5:7; Heb. 13:5-6)
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