31 Days With the Book of Proverbs: A Daily Bible Study – Day 8
“And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.”
Proverbs 8:32
I remember a gospel ditty children still sing, “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands!” Sometimes we insert the word “saved” instead of happy. Same song. Are you, am I, happy? Good question. I sure hope the stay at home order is lifted, and soon, and of course safely. Kinda boring. Want to be happy? Sure. So what will make you happy? Money? New car? Golf? Vacation? I don’t hear any clapping!
So we run after things to make us happy, only to discover we still want more things. Jesus told the Beatitudes, which in most Bibles begin “Blessed,” but could easily begin “Happy.” A famous television preacher once called them the Be Happy-attitudes with some legitimacy. Augustine once wrote “Our souls are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” I think that is accurate. When our souls, our beings, come into alignment with the Holy Triune God we discover that true sense of contentment, of love and joy, that makes our lives truly happy. As Paul put it, “I am content.”
Wisdom in Proverbs is the first of God’s gifts and was with him from the beginning. When we place ourselves in alignment with wisdom, when Christ abides in us and we in him, then we discover the beginning of happiness, then we know true joy.Thanks be to God for his undying love!
Drew Harvey
Photo by Brody Childs on Unsplash
