Mar 16, 2025
Happiness & Emotions
Sermon Series
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The book of Proverbs reveals God's concept of happiness, and not surprisingly, it's much richer than mere emotion. According to Proverbs, happiness is the result of God's blessing. People blessed by God are described as having abundant and lasting joy, free from anxiety and bitterness. So happiness is God's blessing of joy mingled with peace with a sense of purpose. It's inner fulfillment that is steady, even in seasons of sorrow and deep pain. Proverbs 3:13 says, Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding. So, the biblical formula is that wisdom leads to God's blessing, which brings happiness. Since God gave us the inspired scriptures, including the book of Proverbs to make us wise, we can conclude that he wants to bless us, that he wants us to experience happiness – to flourish. That's the Big Idea to hold onto tonight. God wants you to flourish. Proverbs gives us three things we need, that we absolutely must have, if we're going to flourish. We'll go through them one at a time. They are: good words, selfless living, and fulfilled desire.