MAN UP BIBLE SERIESMen Who Matter

Lesson Seven

The Real World As Americans we live love our freedom. One of the lines in the Declaration of Independence reads: “Life , Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” We love our Life and we are on a direct course to find that happy place. Ask most guys what they want out of life and they will answer; “I just want to be happy.” This is a pursuit that is filled with frustration and confusion at every turn. Being happy all the time is illusive and an impossible expectation. It happens only in movies and with those who lie to themselves and others. Honestly many of us have forgotten how to have fun. Like the Amish guy when asked what he does for a good time, replied, “I don’t believe in having a good time.” How does God feel about this happiness factor in our lives? Lets see what the Bible says about this subject.

The Real WordEcclesiastes 2:1-11New International Version (NIV)

Pleasures Are Meaningless

2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem [a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;    I refused my heart no pleasure.My heart took delight in all my labor,    and this was the reward for all my toil.11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done    and what I had toiled to achieve,everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;    nothing was gained under the sun.

Real TalkWhere does your happiness come from?

Do you still know how to have fun?

What does it mean to enjoy life?

Do you ever want to just run away and play?

Real StepsSteps to a Happy LifeTo enjoy our Christian life and to enter into all that God has for us, there are some definite steps we must take:

1. We must believe that God is sovereign.

When we say that God is sovereign, we mean that He rules over everything in this world and in the entire universe. He has all power in Heaven and in

earth. There is nothing that can hinder or prevent God from doing what He purposes to do. 2. We must believe that God is good.

When trials and difficulties come to us, Satan tries to put his wrong thoughts into our mind. He suggests something like this, "God doesn't really love you. How could a good God let this happen to you?"

If we accept Satan's wrong thoughts, they will lead us down into self-pity and depression. The remedy for wrong thinking is right thinking. God's Word tells us that God is good. This is true, regardless of our circumstances. The Bible says,

"Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for HE IS GOOD! For His mercy endures forever." Psalm 106:1 (NKJ)

3. We must believe that God's will is perfect.

There are many mysteries in life that we cannot explain. Christians suffer the same tragedies and sorrows as other people. Many things are hard for us to understand because we are seeing things from the earthly viewpoint and not from God's viewpoint. But God makes no mistakes. No matter how things may look in this fallen world, all of God's acts are perfect. His way cannot be improved upon. The Bible says,

"As for God, His way is perfect." Psalm 18:30

4. We must surrender our will to God.

There is something within us, behind our feelings and our wishes, which decides everything and controls everything. What is it? It is our will.

Our will, which the Bible sometimes calls the "heart," is the stronghold of our entire being. It is not our feelings and our wishes that determine what we do. It is our will. In order for God to get complete control of us, He must possess our will. When God says, "My son, give me your heart," (Proverbs 23:26) He is asking that our will be surrendered to Him. He does not ask for our feelings or our wishes. He wants our will.

5. We must believe that all things work together for good to those who love God.

Nothing that comes into the life of a Christian is accidental. All that comes to us is ordered or permitted by God. And all things that come to us work together for our eternal good. The Bible says,

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 (NKJ)

Time To Close Fun is an art form. It is a learned behavior. Kids all know how to have fun. Somewhere on the road to adulthood we lose our way and our sense of fun and adventure. We miss the clouds in the sky or the bug on the leaf. The flowers and the snow angels are distant memories. Think back to the fun times you had as a kid. You will be amazed at what you remember as the really fun times. Ask your own kids what do they remember as a child as the really fun times. You will be amazed that it is not the things bought or the expensive vacations. It will be the simple times together. This kind of fun cannot be engineered or contrived. It is real and it is there for you to experience. We spend millions trying to overcome depression only to arrive back at zero. An absence of depression is not happiness, it is dull and dead. Having stuff does not make you happy. Having a close relationship with God and seeing the world as he sees it will lead to a life of true happiness and a peace that passes all understanding.