Do we have a moral obligation to be happy?

[eph610]

Reminds me of Positive Psychology

This is where people will be positive no matter what is going on with them.

This is unrealistic. Are you gonna be 'happy' when a loved one dies? The normal response is grief, sadness.. not happiness.

So, negative emotions have an important place in our lives. They allow us to express emotions rightly.

In christianity... people encounter great persecution. Are they gonna be 'happy' about this?

Maybe content in Christ that He has a better plan for them in the end.. but I seriously doubt they will be saying 'isn't it amazing and joyful that I am being jailed for preaching Christ'

It may actually be joyful in the inner man.. in the spirit from knowing Christ's blessings.. but that wouldn't mean most times actually experiencing joyful emotion.

So.. there is no obligation to be happy.

There is no obligation, because if the Spirit is working in you, you can be loving, happy and joyful, while all hell is breaking loose all around you and not one person would know, except the Paul & Barnabas in your life....that my friend, is true spiritual maturity

 

[hornetguy]

to answer the OP...

No. There is no moral obligation for "happiness".

Jesus taught us this... He was sorrowful. He wept. There are many examples...

Now, if you asked if we are to be joyful? Yes. I don't know if there is a "moral obligation" to be joyful, but that is what we are supposed to strive for... living joyfully in Jesus.

 

[Grace777x70]

I think there is a fundamental difference between happiness and joy. Joy is a fruit of the new recreated spirit that is one with the Lord Jesus Christ - the new creation that is in Christ - created in righteousness and holiness.

Joy is a sign that the kingdom is operating in us. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

When I was going through one of the darkest times in my life - the Lord highlighted a scripture that helped me immensely.

Romans 15:13 (KJV)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

What was brought to me in this scripture was that when I am believing the promises of God - I will be filled with peace and joy. This peace and joy that would be evident in my believing would cause hope to abound within me by the power of the Holy Spirit.

At first - I couldn't "see" how this worked but I learned that I wasn't really believing in the promises of God for that situation. When I rested finally in what God said He would do - that's when peace and joy flooded my mind as it flowed out of my heart - despite the fact that the situation did not change. That's when I knew I was finally really believing in what God said.

 

[PinkDiamond]

Wearing a mask or having a stiff upper lip is not the same as choosing to set aside your own pain and sorrow for the good of others. I agree with those who expressed concerns that trying to be happy all the time is unhealthy and fake. That being said there is a huge difference between being real and open with others about our disappointments and being a miserable person. Like the saying, misery loves company, we shouldn't be negative constantly and bring others down. I've seen it quite a few times that a person is sad or depressed and they are determined that everyone around them is going to be sad too, lol.

In reality, we should never be so focused on feeling happy. The more we concentrate on happiness the less we will find it. I think one huge problem that contributes to depression is this pressure that we should be happy and fulfilled in this life. The reality is that the purpose of this life is not to be happy or successful or even loved, but to become transformed and more like Christ. Once a person gives up on trying to have any specific vision or plan for their future and trusts in God, contentment and peace ensue. You can even rejoice in suffering or persecution as you see these trials work good character in you.

As as one previous poster stated, Moses was very depressed. Elijah was so depressed that all of Israel had forsaken God and turned to idolatry that he wanted to die. It is not sinful to be sorrowful or grieved with circumstances in life. There are sufferings in this life that are not easy to endure. We aren't morally obligated to enjoy these sufferings or be happy that we are going through tough times. We are however faced with a choice in life: we can either languish in our depression or sorrow ( and basically allow ourselves to become ineffective in reaching and helping others ) or we can exercise faith and seek God for grace to endure. It is my view that we do owe it to everyone in our sphere of influence to be joyful. As it states in Peter 3:15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have .

 

[Sac49]

to answer the OP...

No. There is no moral obligation for "happiness".

Jesus taught us this... He was sorrowful. He wept. There are many examples...

Now, if you asked if we are to be joyful? Yes. I don't know if there is a "moral obligation" to be joyful, but that is what we are supposed to strive for... living joyfully in Jesus.

Said what i was going to say.

When we read the Psalms we see David praying for joy. An example is in Psalm 86 where David prays "Bring joy to your servant". God doesnt say to be "happy in all things". For it is impossible for us to be happy in all situations. But it is possible to be joyful in all situations. We can be joyful in hard times knowing that we are in Gods hands. It doesnt mean we are happy about the situation. I have severe arthritis and i am not happy one bit about it. But i can be joyful for i know that this is only for a short time. And i can show others by my attitude the joy of being in Christ. Im an not happy with it but i sure can be joyful by not allowing this to affect other areas of my life.

Besides if it was a moral obligation for us as Christians to be happy then how often during one day do we fail in this.

 

[Awakened]

I have questions about this also.* I often wonder if we're suppose to be happy on earth?

John 12:25 (KJV)
*He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal

*The apostles suffered greatly for their faith and in most cases met violent deaths on account of their bold witnes

 

[peacenik]

Hello all
It is a simple question. Do we Have a moral obligation to be happy? Knowing that our moods can affect others . We can easily lift up others that are down with a kind smile or with pleasant conversation. The opposite can be true as well . So as Christians knowing that our own moods affects others should we always try our best to be happy ? I think so . What do y'all think .
Blessings
Bill

Being of good cheer is a New Testament commandment: John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."


I've had several nicknames over my long life. One of them is "Smiley".

 

[maxwel]

to answer the OP...

No. There is no moral obligation for "happiness".

Jesus taught us this... He was sorrowful. He wept. There are many examples...

Now, if you asked if we are to be joyful? Yes. I don't know if there is a "moral obligation" to be joyful, but that is what we are supposed to strive for... living joyfully in Jesus.

That is EXACTLY what I was going to say!

(I have decided that whenever anyone says something really clever, which I NEVER would have thought of, I have adopted a new PERSONAL POLICY of just saying "I was going to say the same thing". This should NOT be confused with LYING. This is not a LIE. It is simply a NEW DIRECTION in PERSONAL POLICY regarding VERACITY of HUMAN COMMUNICATIONS. I repeat, this should NOT be mistaken for LYING... it is just a change of PERSONAL POLICY regarding COMMUNICATIONS.)

 

[JesusLives]

Happiness is a choice.... I say that because in the world we live in we are face with evil and rotten things daily and it is our choice as to how we will react to it. I choose to be happy even though I have had many circumstances that would allow me to be a miserable person. It doesn't mean I wasn't hurt or affected by the things that have happened I was... but chose to put a smile on my face and be at peace knowing that God is still in control.

I have shed my share of tears over the years but once the initial pain of the situation is over the smile comes back out and life goes on. We aren't obligated to be happy but it is a much better way to face the day.

 

[Tinkerbell725]

Happiness is not an obligation, it is contentment in what you have and in doing what you love and being with the people that you love. Contentment gives you inner peace and joy that radiates to others. Most people who are unhappy always complain. But those who are patient are happier people who have been through a lot and learned to accept their situation whether it is good or bad.

 

[Desertsrose]

Hello all
It is a simple question. Do we Have a moral obligation to be happy? Knowing that our moods can affect others . We can easily lift up others that are down with a kind smile or with pleasant conversation. The opposite can be true as well . So as Christians knowing that our own moods affects others should we always try our best to be happy ? I think so . What do y'all think .
Blessings
Bill

Hi Bill,

I love this question, it really made me think this through.

I believe that we all are a happy people when we experience the new birth. I heard a sermon on the beatitudes and it was said that everywhere it says blessed in the beatitudes we could replace happy with the word blessed. It can also mean fortunate. How can we not be a happy people who's God is the Lord.

Here's a handful of scriptures that use the word happy. The verse in Romans below uses the same Greek word makar that's also used in the beatitudes.

Job 5:17 “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Psalm 128:2 When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you.
Proverbs 14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
Romans 14:22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

I couldn't agree that it's a moral obligation though. I think it's more a state of being. It's who we are because of the new birth.

It's something separate from life experiences that cause pain, suffering or strong negative emotion for whatever reason. The being blessed or happy is what undergirds us as we experience life and are going through the sanctification process. We're learning how to put off the old man and to put on the new. We're learning how to not react carnally but to be filled with the Spirit that expresses itself in love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control.

So for instance when I experience sorrow because my mother died, the state of being happy, blessed or fortunate will hold me up under the emotional state I'm experiencing. So as I cry over my loss, that state of being that I'm in (the cause and effect of the new birth) continues to undergird me as I express my grief.

I do believe, however that our obligation is to walk in the Spirit. So for instance when we're suffering or have pain, we don't have the right to live out our life thinking we can be angry or mean or whatever. We are to walk in newness of life. So what does that look like?

If I get up in the morning and only slept 2 hours it makes my fibromyalgia and arthritis much worse. I'm in more pain, weak and a walking zombie actually. When I spend my time with the Lord, I'm able to not react out of the flesh because He empowers me. But I need the refreshing all the time. So many things in life may cause us to react out of the old nature, the old man. As we keep on keeping on and put that old man to death, we can walk in joy and happiness because of the power of the Holy Spirit who enables us to do so.

I do purpose to be obedient. I do live intentionally. I do have His joy and I'm determined to allow Him to work in my heart, to conform me into His likeness. So in that way I believe I'm obligated to give Him my life, my struggles my fears etc. I also am always mindful that I'm a living epistle to the world, a witness of Christ - and whatever I do in word or deed, I'm to do it to His glory.

If I happen to blow it, He's faithful to reveal my sin to me. And He's also faithful to forgive and cleanse me of all unrighteousness as I repent of my sins. So I see it as a relationship. I'm yoked to Jesus and I'm learning each day to walk in step with Him.

 

[MadebyHim]

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Psalm 146:5
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Proverbs 3:13
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Proverbs 14:21
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Proverbs 16:20
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Proverbs 28:14
Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

 

[MadebyHim]

But then we have verses like this, cclesiastes 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Ecclesiastes 7:4
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

 

[MadebyHim]

So could the answer be yes and no? When i start feeling sad its not a good feeling. It seems one way to chase away sad is to start thinking happy thoughts. Maybe being in a house of mourning reminds us that being happy is better, and we try and be happy. Maybe if its always a happy house we might take happiness for granted.