Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jan/83

Contributor - Mrs. Sandi Hekhuis

Title -Happy New Year, Ladies!

Topic - Women

Happy New Year, Ladies! By now you have all heard this greeting many times. Perhaps you have almost forgotten about the holiday celebrations, but the question still may come to mind, "Will this New Year be a happy one?"

What constitutes happiness? The dictionary says one thing: "the pleasurable experience that springs from the possession or gratification of desires, good torture, luck, prosperity". The Bible's definition is quite dissimilar.

We have all lived long enough to know each year brings its ups and down (physical, emotional, financial, and, yes, even at time, spiritual). Undoubtedly 1983 will be no different. There will be a multitude of unexpected joys for God's children, and for some, perhaps, unexpected sorrows, and what we, with our finite minds, call tragedies. We do know, however, that our happiness is based securely on the Word of God, instead of man's dictionary version. Shall we briefly see a few things the Bible tells us about happiness?

1. A good listener brings happiness to others and to himself -

I Kings 10:8 and 11 Chron. 9:7 tell us that we are happy when we continually stand before God and hear His wisdom. A joke heard often is that God gave us two ears and one mouth, so that we would listen more and talk less. Let us listen more to God in 1983. Our small children say, "Stop, look and listen before you cross the street. Use your eyes, use your ears, before you use your feet". We should say as well, stop, look and listen to God before you act.

A good verse for us to assimilate into our thinking is, "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps. 46: 1 0). Becoming a good listener does require concentration and the trait is not developed overnight, but God can and will increase our ability to listen effectively. Psychiatrists and counsellors spend more of their time listening than talking. As we become better listeners, we too may find ourselves becoming willing and helpful (not critical) counsellors.

This is Youth Emphasis Month. Make a special effort this year to listen to your teenagers. Margaret Hess, in her book Love Knows No Barriers, wisely says that if we show an interest in the little, seemingly unimportant things in the lives of our children, they will be more willing to share the vital issues of their lives with us.

2. Sharing and servanthood bring happiness -

I realize again and again how much I need daily lessons in exhibiting greater degrees of compassion, and in learning to serve as Christ served. The Gospel of Mark pictures Christ as a servant. The key verse (I 0:45) says, "He came not to be ministered unto but to minister". As we serve more faithfully and more compassionately in 1983, so too will our joys and happiness increase.

3. Correction brings happiness (Job 5.- 1 7) -

Just as we desire that our children lead joyous, fruitful lives, so also does God desire this for each of His children. In both instances, discipline is a necessity. Our desire for our children is that they develop greater self-discipline, so that discipline becomes internal, 'not external. God wants this for us as we grow in Him. He wants us to internalize His laws and commands, so that obedience to His way becomes our way of living.

4. Persecution and suffering bring happiness (I Peter 3:14, 4.14) This will probably not be an easy year from the world's view for many Christians, but just as discipline is meant to bring improvement in our actions, so too can suffering. When we suffer, we become more aware of all that Christ had to endure just for us. This can make us stronger, more faithful Christians if we allow it to do just that. James gives us that marvelous promise that as we endure we shall also be happy.

Spend some time this year meditating on the Beatitudes (Matt. 5), the Psalms, Proverbs and Philippians, and you will see that truly happy are they whose hope is in the Lord.

Our desires from the worldly sense may not all be granted, nor will we all experience good fortune, luck and prosperity as the world envisions it, but we shall have the joy of knowing that happy are those whose names are written in the Book of Life.

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