Matthew 5:1-12 Now when HE saw the crowds, HE went up on a mountainside and sat down…and HE began to teach them saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see GOD.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of GOD
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me….because great is your reward in heaven… [New International translation]
Definition: The word “Beatitude” is from the Latin “beatus” meaning both “blessed” and “happy.” It is a description of Supreme happiness or Supreme blessedness.
SCRIPTURE DISCUSSION
The verses of Matthew chapter 5:1-12 are often referred to as Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” or “The Beatitudes.” Like Moses’ receiving the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, Jesus’ teaching of the eight beatitudes is a message, instruction or proclamation from GOD. The message of the beatitudes is about humility, charity, and spiritual love.
The message of the beatitudes tells us how it means to live like Christ, who sacrificed Himself out of love for all humanity. The beatitudes are a spiritual guide for the “spiritual” or “inner person.”
The beatitudes are similar to Jesus’ Passover instruction that to be “great” you must “serve.” See, Luke 22:26.
The beatitudes are similar to JESUS’ instruction that to be “great” we must become like “little children” and not “overbearing adults” ---wanting to have everything our way. See, Matthew 18:1-3
The promise and the reward of living a “blessed” life or embracing “an attitude” for the beatitudes is supreme happiness.
Happiness Research
There has been a great deal of research concerning happiness. For example in “Choose To Be Happy, Strategies for Happiness: 7 Steps to Becoming a Happier Person,” by Tom Valeo reviewed by Louise Chang, MD. There are a number of recommendations, based on research, for living a happier life. Central to this research is the idea that you can choose or pursue happiness. Some of the action steps a person can pursue include the following:
Step #1: Don’t Worry; Choose Happiness
This first step involves conditioning your mind by making a conscious choice to not think about those things that make you unhappy, but instead to boost your own happiness. This is basically the lesson of Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” In other words, often what is inside a person gets reflected outside. Instead of intentionally thinking the worse, thinking that “you are going to have a bad day” or that “the work day will automatically be bad” you can choose to be happy, irrespective of your circumstances. If “you let” people “make” you unhappy, (i.e., you give them the power to do so), they often will. But, instead, if you decide to “make” yourself happy, (i.e., you give yourself the power to do so), you often can. So, make an intentional choice about how you are going to feel “inside.” Decide what kind of attitude you will have. Assure yourself that GOD is going to work everything out, no matter what happens. Step out on faith, trust GOD and be happy (i.e. claim your victory and even celebrate early), even before the situation unfolds!
Step #2 Cultivate Gratitude
One of the ways of developing a “happiness” state of mind” is to “perform some happiness exercises.” One such exercise is to cultivate a sense of gratitude. Wake up in the morning and literally count your blessings—name them one by one. Breathe the fresh air, listen to the sounds, smell the rain or the earth. Look back over your past---did GOD ever get you through a storm? Were you blessed with Godly parents and friends? Did GOD see you through a test or a presentation, give you a job, allow you to attend school, provide a roof over your head, allow you to eat a good meal? Did HE take care of you and your ancestors, generation after generation? Were you ever sick and got better? Instead of thinking about what you don’t have, think about just how far you have come.
Step #3 Foster Forgiveness
Holding or “nursing” a grudge, a grievance or a hurt can affect your own physical and mental health. Mahalia Jackson, the famous contralto Civil Rights Gospel singer, is quoted as saying “If you dig one ditch you better dig two cause the trap you set may be for you.” In other words, all those negative thoughts you have for someone else, may be affecting your own health. Unforgiveness tends to have twin ravenous siblings, bitterness and resentment, which eat up a lot of “mental” energy. They like to waste time remembering past wrongs. They churn away at every slight, creating a “festering sores” in the heart. They use up creative energy setting land mines and envisioning other “get even” disasters that often end up blowing up in the wrong person’s face. Unforgiveness, resentment and bitterness are difficult walking companions, because they are “stuck” in one place--the past. Best to leave them behind and move on. Unforgiveness also tends to cause memory loss and poor vision. Unforgiving people forget that none of us has reached perfection. They forget that all of us make mistakes. The thought of being “better” than someone else or that someone else is so much worse is “just an illusion.” All of us need forgiveness. If GOD forgave us (and the world) on the cross, who are we to refuse to do likewise.
Step # 4: Counteract Negative Thought and Feelings
This may look a lot like Step #1, but the difference is taking it out of the “mental” realm by using “action” to counter the mental. So instead of just thinking, do something physical to help you shrug off negative thoughts and negative feelings. Practice yoga. Practice meditation or breathing exercises. Do relaxation exercise, tai chi or other moving meditation techniques to quell anxiety. Go for a walk. Take a zumba or dance class. Go to Bible study. When you “feel bad” do something to make yourself feel good.
Step #5: Remember, Money Can’t Buy Happiness
So much of our unhappiness has to do with “myths” we hold in our minds about what we “imagine” will make us happy.” Research tend to show that once income levels rise above the poverty level, more money tends to bring very little happiness. There are numerous accounts of lottery winners who were much happier before they hit the lottery than afterwards. See: http://time.com/4176128/powerball-jackpot-lottery-winners/. One winner reported wishing he had just torn up the ticket.
Step #6: Foster Friendship
Unhappy people often feel isolated, disconnected and alone. That is why it is important for churches and worshipers to reach out to others and extend the hand of friendship. Valeo states that: “One Australian study found that people over 70 who had the strongest network of friends lived much longer.” Many churches used to sing the hymn: “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds; is like to that above”* at the end of every church service. The song served as a constant reminder that the “binding ties of friendship and fellowship” provide meaningful support to people in difficult times and increase their happiness.
Step #7: Engage In Meaningful Activities
According to one psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, people are seldom happier than when they are “in the flow,” the state in which the mind becomes thoroughly absorbed by a meaningful task that challenges your abilities. This often happens when people serve. When people volunteer their time, join a choir, join a ministry, become part of a civic activity in your community it has meaning and increases happiness. This same psychologist also noted that one of the most common leisure time activity in America—watching TV—produces some of the lowest levels of happiness. In other words, “to get more out of life; you have to put more into it.” Do something for Christ. Allow GOD to use you. Serve with gladness and be happy.
HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Over the next few days, we will be wishing each other Happy New Year. Many of us will be praying for a Happy 2017 for ourselves, our families, our friends, our churches, our cities, our nation and the world.
Let us all meditate on Matthew 5:1-12. Let us open our minds and our hearts to Jesus’ sermon to us. Let us pray we forgive, be grateful, choose the positive, be peacemakers, mourn with those who have suffered and lost loved one and pray for those who continue to suffer because of war and indifference. Pray we become a just and merciful nation, that we have friendly places of worship that extend helping hands of true friendship to our neighbors and love one another. Pray in 2017 we treat our minds and bodies as temples of GOD. Pray we make a sincere commitment to greater spiritual and physical health.
Pray that we continue to study GOD’s HOLY WORD, so that we can learn exactly what HE would have us to learn, so we can do exactly what HE would have us to do.
In 2017, be happy and BE BLESSED!
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*Blest Be the Tie That Bind,” by John Fawcett 1772.
