Sunday, October 10, 2021

The Danger of Being Happy

 When times are rough, when our backs are against the wall; yes sir, we believers are wearing out the rug talking to G-d about it. If G-d's halls had floor wax on the floors, we would be rubbing those floors straight down to the marble. We would be eroding holes in the marble with our tears.

When times are good, when we are happy, maybe not so much.

This is a dangerous paradox that is woven all through the Tanakh, what Christians call the Old Testament: G-d wants us to be happy and prosperous. He is delighted in our delight. But being happy and successful tends to make the mind wander to other things besides G-d. Being interested and involved in stuff is not itself the problem, but if this tends to make us neglect our relationship with G-d, that's where the problem lies.

This is a warning that is repeated throughout the Tanakh. Be mindful after you are happy and prosperous and G-d has blessed you, that you do not forget Him and His Laws. Especially do not imagine that it is because of any special merit in yourself that you are doing so well: you are doing well because G-d has blessed you and made you prosperous and for no other reason.

So do be happy. G-d loves a joyful heart. But don't forget where that came from.

"When the Lord your God brings you into the land
he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
to give you — a land with large, flourishing cities
you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of
good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig,
and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—
then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that
you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt,
out of the land of slavery."

~Deuteronomy 6:10-12

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