Who is really happy? We might be surprised. Happiness is not actually for sale. "Blessed are . . ." When Jesus sat down to teach the Sermon on the Mount he started nine straight sentences with these words. Some translations say, "How happy are . . ." If we were making the list we might say, "Happy are those who have money, for they can buy what they want." Or "How happy are the ones who never have a problem." Don't we think this way: "How happy are the powerful people who are proud of themselves and their accomplishments."
This is what makes Jesus' words so shocking. His thoughts are counterintuitive. In some ways, the beatitudes turn the world upside down. Or, maybe they turn the world right-side up. How can the poor in spirit, or the mourners, or the humble or the persecuted be happy? Jesus answers: the poor in spirit get the Kingdom of heaven. Mourners find comfort. The meek inherit the earth and the persecuted get God as their King. Eugene Peterson translates the first beatitude: "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule."
What if Jesus is right? Of course he is. He always is. How does that change our priorities? It turns out happiness is not something we attain, but something we receive as a gift. God blesses those who know that God is really all we have, and really all we need. When God blesses us in other ways, we can be thankful, but we must never set our hearts on wealth, power and comfort here. The real purpose in life is living under God's rule. It turns out my friend Jim Denison is right, God is a much better King than hobby for us. Is Jesus your King? How happy you must be! No wonder you live with such joy.
