Matthew 5:3 - 12

My first emphatic answer to the question in the title is, “Of course not, it is not supposed to!”

So, stay with me for a bit. Imagine just one day in your life when:

1.   Those who hold power over you, have ground you down, and you’re still able to function…

2.   And function not just on any day, but on a day when you’ve lost someone close you, maybe even watched them suffer…

3.   And with all that going on you’re not feeling terribly wise and strong. In fact perhaps you feel small...

4.   And on this day when you’ve faced all of that, the temptations that normally pull at you to nurse your wounds (alcohol, sex, anger, etc.) remarkably hold no power over you…

5.   In fact you’re being nice, even kind—not because of some obligation (you’ve been in that mode and it only builds up resentment) but because you want to…

6.   You realize why. Because in the middle of all these situations and challenges, you have a singular focus on Jesus…

7.   So much so, that in the middle of arguments, at work and at home, you’ve been able to bring real calm, even peace.

8.   And after all that, the thanks you get from people, some really close to you, is abuse…

9.   And as you come to the end of that sort of a day…you are content…even happy.

Sound surreal? Sound impossible? 

It is one way to sketch out the Matthew 5:3-12. Often called the Beatitudes, Jesus is addressing our character—he says if we get our character right—we will be happy.

Note he does NOT say this will be easy. He simply says following Him should lead to your happiness—your JOY!

I now go back to the question in my title. I struggle thinking that my faith should make me happy.

I don’t like the word happy in this context. I can give you a sermon on it. When I was growing up, my religion was a really sad affair.  

This is what happens when your religion is not aligned with Kingdom living.

My approach to deflect these annoying words from Jesus was to point out that “blessed” isn’t happy. 

Keeping it as “blessed” kept it religious. Religious things are things I strive after, fall short, then beat myself up. 

It was a pretty sad affair.

If you think I am being cute, check out this webpage of commentaries on how the word should be translated happy. Even John Calvin translates it as “happy”. 

There is just no escaping it—it is maddening. 

I am much more comfortable with my noble, yet flawed, attempts at obeying the law.

Yet Jesus, as he starts his manifesto, starts by encouraging us to have character traits that will lead to our happiness. He had not said we have to be this way to enter the Kingdom. He has however pointed out that to be fully in tune with the Kingdom, we should seek this type of character.

Which of the traits (poor-in-spirit, etc.) do you: 1. Demonstrate, 2. Desire, and 3. Defer?

Consider asking God to lead you to the next aspect of your character He seeks to conform to the Kingdom—so you might be happy—crazy stuff.