Beth-El Baptist Church

02/20/2011

Greg Tomlinson


How can Christians be happy in this wicked world?


There are some Christians who see the evil of this world, including the cruelty that one man inflicts upon another, and are unable to find anything worth smiling about or being generally happy. Add to the general wickedness within the world, a person's own current status. Perhaps he has no job, no visible means of support, very few friends, or have recently lost a loved one. The idea of happiness just continues to slip away from them. Other Christians seem to smiling and happy on a regular basis. It is difficult for some to comprehend how it is possible to truly be happy.


  1. What is there to be upset about?

Psalm 73:3-9; 38:3-6 Romans 12:14-18

John 16:32-33 Matthew 9:35-38; 25:45-46


The world is filled with people who are doing wickedly and appear to be thriving in our communities while many who seek to be obedient to God are struggling to survive. The world is filled with diseases and people dying. More importantly, there are people who are dying without Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, condemned to eternity in hell.


  1. What is there to be happy about?

2 Corinthians 4:6-10 2 Timothy 1:7-12

John 5:24-25 1 John 3:13-14

Job 19:25-27 Philippians 1:20-27

Hebrews 12:1-4


Despite the difficulties in life, the Christian knows that their troubles are only for a short period of time. They are assured that when they depart from this world, that they will be forever in the presence of God and as a result the joy of knowing that they are only in pain and sorrow for a short period of time fills them with an upward and eternal focus. The happy Christian refuses to dwell on their circumstances but instead look beyond their circumstances to see Christ waiting for them to carry them on into eternal bliss.


  1. Doesn't it require a lack of caring about others to be truly happy?

Psalm 73:15-19 Romans 10:13-18; 1:18-25; 9:14-16

John 6:35-47; 16:7-11; 16:20-22 Luke 10:19-20

Matthew 7:13-14


It is not a matter of lack of caring. The things of this world are not meant to rob the Christian of joy but that the knowledge of Jesus Christ is to fill them with joy. To many, it is the joy of the Christian in the midst of difficulties that enables some to see that Christianity has something to offer. If the Christian is just as miserable, or more miserable, then the rest of the world, it would indicate that the promises of God are truly worthless. It is not the fault of the Christian that people are miserable, it is the reality of their own personal sin that makes them miserable. The Christian is to look beyond the difficulties of life and rejoice in the person of God. They know that their names are written in heaven.


  1. What should be done for those who are unable to find happiness?

John 6:35-47 Matthew 5:43-48

Ephesians 4:11-16 Galatians 6:1-6


The most important thing is to communicate to others the gospel of Jesus Christ that they may understand the reality of forgiveness of sins and that Jesus can and will fill their hearts with their peace and with his presence. Christians should also seek to help those who are burdened to learn how to carry or endure in the midst of their burdens so that they are strengthened by the people of God to live out the life that Christ has given unto them.