Lesson 7. How to Be Happy. The “Christian’s First Steps” School is intended for new converts. Prepared by Pastor Dmitriy Leo for Father’s Blessing Church, 2022.
And They Lived Happily Ever After
Most fairy tales end like this: “And they lived happily ever after.” But in real life, things somehow turn out differently: “And they lived happily until they met each other,” or “And they lived happily ever after—until they learned that others were living longer and happier lives.”
People feel happy until they discover that other people have a better life.
A famous person once gave a good definition of happiness: “Happiness is not a destination, but a way of traveling.” I agree with this statement because happiness is not a goal but a way of life. The secret of happiness is simple: “If you want to be happy, be happy!” Being happy is not difficult at all.
I remember how, as children, we were overflowing with happiness because after a downpour we could splash through puddles. At the same time, many adults felt unhappy because everything was wet and dirty. Happiness is not what is outside us, but what is inside us.
Remember when you were in love—what you were capable of doing for the one you loved and how happy you were about it! Once, outside one of the schools, I noticed a message written on the asphalt in white paint: “Tanya, I love your school and you!”
Another time, I saw a young man seeing his girlfriend off at the train station. When the train started moving, he ran after it and sent his beloved text messages, and she replied. We sat in a stuffy compartment with sour expressions, while that girl, unlike us, was radiant with happiness!
Love life and enjoy it—that is the whole secret! Sometimes it is helpful to look at those who are worse off than we are, so that we can come to our senses, repent, and thank God for what we have.
A community of fifteen thousand people decided to raise money for those suffering from hunger in Africa, but because of the crisis, people were donating reluctantly. Then the pastor suggested that the entire community eat for one week only the food available to Africans, so they could experience their situation. The whole community agreed to this honest experiment, and for an entire week everyone ate only beans and rice. Afterward, people were so moved with compassion for needy Africans that they brought to the church all the money they had saved that week (and it was a huge amount!), which was used to purchase tons of food for Africa.
How to Be Happy
Helping others is the only way to become happy. The more you share happiness, the more it multiplies.
We should not be happy because we have a lot of money, but because we have helped someone.
We should be happy because we gave a piece of bread to a hungry person.
We should be happy when we see that a drug addict has stopped injecting drugs after we ministered to him.
We should be happy because women who were prostitutes now live pure lives and glorify the Lord.
We should rejoice that a family has been restored and now has peace.
Some Christians are upset because they share the Good News with many people, but only a few of them come to the Lord. However, Jesus rejoices even over one sinner who returns to Him more than over ninety-nine righteous people who did not go astray.
Matthew 18:11–14: The Son of Man came to save those who are lost, Jesus continued. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he will rejoice more over that one than over the ninety-nine that did not wander away. In the same way, your Heavenly Father is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
A man walking along the seashore saw a boy picking up starfish from the sand surrounding him on every side and throwing them into the sea. After a storm, millions of these sea creatures had been washed onto the sand; the shore was literally covered with them for many kilometers.
“Why are you throwing the starfish into the water?” the man asked as he approached.
“If they remain on the shore, they will die,” the boy replied, continuing his task.
“But that’s simply foolish!” the man objected. “Look around! There are millions of starfish here; the shore is covered with them. Your efforts won’t change anything!” But the boy picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea.
“You’re mistaken!” he said. “My efforts will change a great deal… for this starfish.”
“Happiness is the only thing you can give to another person without taking anything away from yourself.” Sadly, millions of people will go to hell after death, but what matters is that we do everything possible in time to give every perishing person a chance to be saved.
Changed hearts and saved lives—this is what is truly precious in the eyes of God and what makes us happy, no matter what. It is very simple to be happy when you live not for yourself, but for others.
Matthew 5:14–16: You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, so that it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Heavenly Father.
When we bring light to people, they begin to glorify the Heavenly Father. The world becomes brighter when we do good deeds, when a drug addict quits taking drugs and goes to church, when darkness leaves people's hearts and they turn to God. This is true happiness—to bring light into the world and thereby glorify our Heavenly Father.
A holy woman who has since gone to be with the Lord lived a righteous and happy life, leaving no doubt that she was a true Christian. She was a light to the world, preaching not with her lips but through her life. Here are her famous ten sayings:
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Despite this—forgive them!
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Despite this—be kind!If you are successful, you will gain not only true friends but also false ones. Despite this—be successful!
If you are honest and open, people may deceive you. Despite this—be honest and open!
What you have built over many years, someone may destroy overnight. Despite this—keep building!
If you attain peace and happiness, people may begin to envy you. Despite this—be happy!
The good you did today, people may forget tomorrow. Nevertheless, do good!
Give the world the best you have, even though it may often not be enough. Nevertheless, give!
If you judge someone, you will have no time left to love them! Love! In spite of everything!
Share the best you have with people, even though it will never be enough. Still, share the very best you have. In the end, you will realize for yourself that all of this took place between you and God, and never between them and you.
Conclusions
The secret of happiness is very simple: “If you want to be happy—be happy!” How can you be happy? Be useful to others.
“Happiness is the only thing you can give to another person without taking anything away from yourself.”
“Happiness is not a destination, but a way of traveling.”
