In John Wesley’s sermons it has been discovered that he “explicitly spoke of happiness as the goal of Christian life.” Like the psalmist, Wesley linked happiness and holiness. Psalm 112 ties happiness not only to fear of the Lord but also to “delight in his commandments.” The psalmist probably had in mind the Mosaic Law in general, but the heart of that law is the Ten Commandments. Behind the commandments is the recognition that keeping a certain order to life and protecting all people from abuse and exploitation are of primary importance if there is to be happiness in our lives.
Happiness can flourish only when it’s linked to the holiness factor.
Jesus when speaking to his disciples at the Last Supper spoke about joy just before he was to be crucified. He talked to his disciples about “abiding” in his love and loving one another. Then he added, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). How might our joy (happiness) be made complete?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
