Articles
God Wants Me to Be Happy
Unfortunately, the sentiment expressed in the title of this article is usually a defense of something sinful. It is a true statement used to support a false conclusion, which is one reason it is deceiving. Of course God wants us to be happy. And because of that, He has clearly defined what actually results in happiness and well-being. But when one learns that God disapproves of something they find pleasurable or beneficial, and they do not understand why it is sinful, the rationalizing begins.
For example, someone may be in a romantic relationship that transgresses the bounds of an approved marriage. Not wanting to leave it, the “God wants me to be happy” rationale attempts to soothe the conscience and minimize the force of Scripture.
There is an assumption in this notion that God would never ask us to do anything difficult, that terminating our relationship with sin is unreasonable. Yet Scripture documents many instances where God has asked His faithful ones to make great sacrifices in order to maintain fellowship with Him.
Yes, God wants us to be happy. He promises to supply our material needs, forgive our sins, and answer our prayers. He has given us the joys of family, the glories of His creation, a spiritual family that often is dearer than fleshly ties. There is nothing that provides true happiness that God has withheld from us. The question is: Do we really believe that enough to forsake our sins and live in harmony with His will? This is true happiness.
