What Makes You HappySample

Sow and Reap Your Way to Happiness

How would you like a list of things you could do to be happy?

Sound helpful? Well, you’re in luck. 

During Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He details what happy people do, how they behave, and what they should think. He does this by giving a list of statements, known as the Beatitudes, that start with the word “blessed.” “Blessed” comes from the Greek word “makarios,” which means “fortunate” or “happy.” So, as you read the Beatitudes, try replacing the word “blessed” with “happy” at the beginning of each statement.

If you do, you may be surprised at what’s included in Jesus’ happiness checklist. Happy are those who mourn. Happy are those who are persecuted. Wait…what?

Jesus’ list doesn’t make much sense until you look for what all eight things have in common. The common denominator is the secret to happiness, and it’s this: happiness is an outcome. It’s a result. It’s about something now that leads to something later. It’s not immediate. 

In other words, you can't hear a song or read a book or buy an item and instantly find happiness. You have to sow your way to happiness. Like a farmer who plants seeds now that he’ll reap later, you have to do some (perhaps counterintuitive) things now if you want to reap happiness later. 

What are those things? Look at Jesus’ list and think about what you’d have to do now in order to one day be what He described. To one day mourn, you have to be in loving relationships right now. To one day be called someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, you have to start picking what’s right over what’s easy today. To one day be merciful, you have to forgive current grudges.

Jesus punctuated the principle that happiness is sown and grown with a parable about two men who build houses. One does the wise thing now and is happy later. One doesn’t. Are you willing to be like the wise man and practice hard things now to ensure happiness in the future? If so, Jesus has a list to get you started.