The pastor of a very large congregation looked out on a Sunday morning and proclaimed, “God wants you to be happy!” It is as though the chief goal of mankind is to be happy. Unfortunately, this philosophy isn’t biblical, it has invaded the truth, and has made a big mess. Now, popular thinking goes something like this, I can indulge in sin, God wants me to be happy. If obedience seems to difficult, its OK, God wants me to be happy. We will even read the Bible through this philosophy and anything that seems to inhibit our “happiness” we either discard or change it to fulfill our “happiness.”

If you are curious what the goal of your life truly is Paul said it pretty well in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “When you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it ALL to the Glory of God.” Our obedience to Him is not ultimately for His blessings on our life, it is for the glory of God. We live for Him, not for what He will give to us to make us happy, but for the glory of God. We have truly gotten this upside down if we believe God is in heaven, and His plan is centered around our “happiness.”

People have quit Christianity altogether because they were told that if they obey God then He will bless them. Sometimes our obedience means persecution. Sometimes obedience means sacrifice. Sometimes our obedience will cost us relationships. None of this is centered around our happiness. The Apostle Peter was confronted by Jesus in John 21. Peter your obedience to me is literally going to cost you your life through crucifixion. Peter asked what I would, “Well, what about John, what will happen to him?” Jesus replied (paraphrase) What difference does it make what happens to him, Peter you follow me.

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body ^[c]and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19,20.