Here Is A Blueprint Plan For Happiness

Prov. 14:21 - He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

• What Not To Do        

You do not want to "despise" your neighbor. The Hebrew word here for "despise" means to believe your neighbor is insignificant and show contempt for this person. I am blessed as I am surrounded by great neighbors now, but it was not always this way. 

When I was young living in Lisbon, Ohio playing baseball in my back yard was challenging. If you hit the ball in my neighbor’s yard, Mrs. R would take our ball and not give it back to us. The moment we started playing baseball she would exit her house and sit on her porch and wait for a ball to come in her yard.

We asked her to return our baseballs on numerous occasions, my parents asked her to return the baseballs, and the answer was always the same “NO!”. When she died her husband called me over and gave me 15 like new baseballs.

I am not sure why she despised us, but it sure made her a very miserable and unhappy person.

• What To Do

The person who has “mercy” towards the poor is going to be happy.
Do you want to be happy?

Then help the poor. Be the best neighbor you can be and in so doing you will allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through you.

This Hebrew word is translated mercy 16 times and gracious 13 times. The definition for “grace” is receiving something you totally don’t deserve and the definition for “mercy” is not receiving what you totally deserve.

I believe we are to be gracious to our neighbors. God gives grace to us in many ways but the most important way is He gives us salvation from our sins. Something we totally don’t deserve. He also shows us “mercy” by not giving us an eternity in hell, which is what we deserve for sinning against Him.

• Be Like Jesus

Acts 10:38 - how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Jesus went about “doing good” and He is our example. We are to pattern our life after Him.
What good can you do for others today?

Do you want to be happy? Show grace and mercy to the poor and according to Solomon you will be happy.

It was said that Jesus said it this way: “…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Think About These:
 
Be a giver and you will be the receiver.
 
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago      
    
Minister of God’s Word