THE KEY TO TRUE HAPPINESS

Matthew 5:1-11

Introduction: Most people are always looking for the so-called "good life." They are constantly striving to obtain more, to achieve more, to do more as it pertains to this world. The writer of Ecclesiastes in chapter 6 paints a pretty dismal picture. He describes a person who is never satisfied with what the world has to offer. I know for me, I often find myself asking, "What is next?" What other thing can I accomplish or do or obtain? As so many people have learned, striving after things that are temporal will often bring disappointment and sorrow.

A. Jesus teaches concerning the keys to true happiness and satisfaction in Matthew 5:1-12

1. We need to compare Matthew's account with Luke's in 6:17-23

2. Both accounts express a need to be content spiritually as well as physically

B. Expound upon the beatitudes

1. In Matthew Jesus takes the teacher's seat

2. There is a distinction between the multitude and Jesus' disciples

3. In Luke there are Jesus' disciples, the multitude, and the twelve

4. Jesus teaching in Matthew 5:3-10 transcends time

I. EULOGIA versus MAKARIOS

A. MAKARIOS was a term used to describe the condition of the gods (explain)

1. The term means to be self-satisfied or sufficient

2. God does not need anything to exist; He is not dependent upon anyone or anything; all things come from God and in Him all things consist (Col. 1:16-17)

3. Thus God is MAKARIOS (1 Tim. 1:11; 6:15)

B. True happiness or satisfaction is not dependant upon external circumstances or things

1. We are not to worry about such (Matt. 6:25-34)

2. Our happiness cannot be tied to the physical and temporal (Ecc. 5:10-17)

a. Such will be depleted and where will our happiness be then?

b. Such will never be enough to apply to other areas of concern

3. Happiness cannot be found in the things you possess (Luke 12:15)

C. True happiness is found in one's relationship with God

1. Outside of God, all that man obtains for the sake of happiness will bring only a state of temporary joy and eventually bring added misery (Sex; drugs; wealth; fame etc.)

2. We must have a Moses type of faith (Heb. 11:24-27)

II. True blessedness can be found only in Christ (Eph. 1:3; Psalm 32:10-11)

A. Since God is self-sufficient, we are sufficient in Him

1. Read 2 Corinthians 3:5

2. Outside of Christ we are inefficient and will come to naught (John 15:5)

B. Again, we cannot obtain sufficiency through outward circumstances or means

1. We must have the kind of attitude that characterized Paul in Philippians 3:7-21

2. Nothing meant more to him than his relationship with the Lord

3. Thus, we resolve the paradox that exists in the beatitudes (explain)

a. Hunger, poverty, sorrow persecution are blessings

b. On account of the relationship we have with Christ

D. Such comes from having a right relationship with the Lord

1. Paul put his trust and confidence in his relationship with the Lord (2 Tim 1:12)

2. Read Philippians 4:10-13

Conclusion: (1 Tim. 6:6-8) Are you in a right relationship with God? Or are you dependant upon other things? Though all may not go well externally, you can rest assured that with God you are more sufficient than you think (2 Cor. 6:3-10). Being in Christ is the key to true happiness.