This week I found myself humming an old chorus we sang in my Sunday School days; part of it goes like this: 鈥淗appiness is 鈥aving a change in my behaviour, happiness is the Lord.鈥� That, in turn, caused me to muse on the articles I鈥檝e been submitting on the Book of Proverbs. By embracing so many of those true and solid exhortations, it鈥檚 also important to remember that in following the admonitions of Solomon and other writers, we are not destined to a life of dreary subservience. Yes, there is a cost to following Christ but there are benefits beyond the difficult and sometimes painful consequences of sticking to our convictions.
First, Proverbs 1:9鈥� 聽鈥淲hat you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honour around your neck鈥� (NTL Translation). In another part of the book, Solomon writes: 鈥淗appy is the man/woman who finds wisdom and the man/woman who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.鈥� (3:13-15) Those sound like pretty impressive rewards to me!
But there鈥檚 more. As we share our blessings with others, there is another layer of happiness that reaches beyond material things: 鈥淏ut he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.鈥� Trust, as well as action, has its own level of joy according to the writer of Proverbs: 鈥淗e who heeds the word wisely will find good and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.鈥�
Perhaps the thing we most often forget, however, is that God also delights in us. 鈥淭hose who deal truthfully are His delight? (12:22).
鈥淗e who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.鈥� Can鈥檛 really beat that, I鈥檇 say.
