The Biblical Concept of Happiness

The word “happy” only appears in six verses in the King James Version of the New Testament.

The Greek adjective makarios (G3107) appears a total of 49 times in the King James Version of the Bible. It is translated as blessed 43 times, happy 5 times and happier 1 time.

The Greek verb makarizō (G3106), which is derived from makarios (G3107), appears a total of 4 times in the King James Version of the Bible. It is translated as blessed 1 time, call 1 time, count 1 time and happy 1 time.

The noun form of this word is makarismos (G3108) which is derived from verb makarizō (G3106), appears a total of 3 times in the King James Version of the Bible. It is translated as blessedness in all 3 instances.

These three related Greek works relate to being blessed. The Bible uses a different word when referring to the emotion of happiness on the inside – that word is “joy”. In modern day society we tend to not use the word “joy” – favouring the word “happiness” instead.

The point I’m trying to make here is that the concept of happiness and joy are totally different in the Bible and in everyday life as well. In today’s society I would say that the word “happy” and concept of happiness relates to the attainment of goals or material goods as a means of appeasing certain core human needs, such as security and approval. Once these needs are appeased – we say that we are “happy”. Such happiness is temporal as those core human needs are never satiated for very long.

The Bible plainly sets out the concept that joy is from the Lord (Neh. 8:10, Psalm 21:1, 1 Thess. 1:6, Rom. 14:17).

I like what Jesus says in Luke 12:15 says in that is refutes the misguided notion that life, zoe (G2222) in the Greek, the feeling of being alive on the inside as I put it, is derived from the abundance of what one possess.

I love what the Bible promises in Romans 14:17.

¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17 nkjv

Righteousness in this verse is not just “experiential righteousness” which is the good conduct of a person and their obedience to God; it has a lot more to do with the assurance that a believer is right with God and accepted by Him – just the way he is. This assurance of righteousness is what brings a person peace and joy in the Holy Spirit as he ceases from his efforts to please God through rule-keeping and works.

If the emotion of joy comes from an intimate relationship with God according to the faith of a believers right-standing with God in Christ – why on earth do we continue, even as believers in Christ, to put so much of an emphasis on performance, moral conduct and achievement?

The Pursuit of Unrealistic Goals

If we are not careful – we can end-up spending a lot of time and effort pursuing unrealistic goals and trying to please God and other people – instead of simply resting in the knowledge that we are accepted and treasured by God – not because of what we do for Him – but because of what He has already done for us by sending Jesus to die for us. My insecurities caused me to run off with a great deal of enthusiasm seeking those things that I was convinced the Word of God promised me – instead of simply enjoying the blessings and favour that surrounded me at that moment. I was convinced that I simply could not be happy unless I had this or had that.

We often look to what we do or what we have for our happiness. It has a lot to do with wanting the approval of other people: if we believe that the approval of others is merited according to what we achieve or what we own – we will be motivated to do or attain those things that we feel will bring us the most approval from other people.

Even if you do get people’s attention and congratulations from something you achieve – they often end-up expecting more and more from you each time. This process can go on and on for years until, finally one day, you just collapse under the pressure of performance.

Wouldn’t it be so much better to have the approval of other people – even when you do nothing to merit it? God’s favour can secure you the favour and respect of other people – even when you don’t deserve it. Fortunately, all of the gifts and blessings of God are free in Christ. But we simply need to seek the assurance of our righteousness in Him in order for these blessings to overtake us.