Are you happy with your life?

All over the world people have varied answers to that question. It is a question about human flourishing.

What is human  ?

Each of these is nearly universally desired, and each constitutes an end in and of itself.

• Happiness and Life Satisfaction
• Mental and Physical Health
• Meaning and Purpose
• Character and Virtue
• Close Social Relationships
• Financial and Material Stability

We all want to flourish.

True human   happens when I am   in a right relationship with God.

In the OT, the idea of flourishing is found the word “are,” which refers to true happiness and flourishing within the gracious covenant God has given.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.                                                                                              
Psalm 1:1–3

This is the happy state of the one who lives wisely, here in Psalm 1 and throughout the Proverbs. The Beatitudes have the voice of Isaiah 61 …

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.                                
Isaiah 61:1–3

Jesus is the   of a flourishing life.

What makes a blessing a blessing is God’s relationship with and favorable attitude toward a person or group of people; the benefit (or the blessing) is secondary to the relationship.                               
Christopher Wright Mitchell

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
Matthew 5:1-2

Up on the mountain – high places are understood as the location where gods speak and reveal.  Jesus’s ascent up the mountain speaks of divine revelation. This is Jesus, the teacher, bringing divine revelation, weighty words …

Jesus gives us His vision of true human flourishing.

Over the next weeks, we will look at these nine statements that cast a vision for life that includes an implicit invitation to a life that is flourishing. Jesus is inviting us into a way of being in the world that will result in our true and full flourishing now … and in the age to come.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.                                        
Matthew 5:3

Makarios – a vision for the wise way of being in the world that will result in what all humans desire – human flourishing.

The English word “blessed” is so heavily loaded with the narrower sense of “divine favor” that the sense of human flourishing is almost always lost. – Jonathan Pennington

There is no good, single English word that communicates the complexity, beauty, and nuance of this weighty word.

On this one word the entire passage stands and from this one word the whole list hangs. Get this word right, the rest falls into place; get it wrong, and whole thing falls apart.                                                                   
Scot McKnight

Another way to read this verse is …

Flourishing are the poor in spirit because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.               
Matthew 5:3 (Pennington)

Jesus Himself models all of these makarisms and here in particular …

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”                                                           
Matthew 11:28–30

Beatitudes define the character and conduct of those whom God has already claimed as his children. They describe the holy life that necessarily results from genuine salvation.                                                                       
Charles Quarles

Poor in spirit - less is more when it comes to flourishing.

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.                                              
Revelation 3:17–18

There is a poverty that brings  .

Recognizing my   causes me to   on Christ.

Kingdom of heaven – at peace with Jesus in this world both now and forever.

Jesus gives me a   of the future that gives me   in the present.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.                                      
Romans 8:37–39

I must live in   worlds until they become   world.

We know joy in this kingdom, so does Jesus’ brother James …

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.                                    
James 1:2–4

So does the apostle Peter …

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.                           
1 Peter 1:3–9

Flourishing are the poor in spirit because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.               
Matthew 5:3 (Pennington)

Live with Jesus in the present through the Holy Spirit.

Focus on the eternal reward.

The movie The Jerk … Steve Martin – all I need is. … this lamp, this chair, this book, this car, this house … this Jesus … as if Jesus was just another thing I need to experience for the good life now.

If you and I are going to truly flourish in this life … then we must receive the invitation to simply be with Jesus in the life and for eternity. And in the relationship live as one who is poor in spirit … rich in salvation … and living in the eternal kingdom of heaven.

So, what do you need to do?

Repent – change the way I think about this life.

Receive – salvation, this kingdom in all its glory, receive the peace, the joy, the contentment, the truth, shalom.

Rejoice – with my focus on Christ, lift my voice and proclaim my love, and my trust in my Savior.

Flourish in faith with a future that cannot be taken away!