How to Be Happy In What You Do
INTRODUCTION.
A. Read James 1:21-27
B. In all you do, are you happy?
1. James 1:25 reads, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (NKJV)
2. The Greek word translated as blessed means, “blessed or happy.”
3. The verse teaches that you can be happy in all the things that you do. However, there is one requirement: You must look into the perfect law of liberty and continue in that perfect law.
C. It is the purpose of this lesson to examine the two-step process of being blessed or happy in what you do.
D. Before we show this two-step process, do you know whether or not you are happy in all that you do?
1. If the life you are living will lead you to heaven, then yes, you should be happy (blessed) in all that you do.
2. However, if the life you are living is leading you to hell, then no, you should not be happy with your life.
I. STEP ONE: LOOK INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY.
A. What is the “perfect law of liberty”?
1. “perfect” - teleios {tel’-i-os} - “1) brought to its end, finished 2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness 3) perfect 4) that which is perfect” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
2. “law of liberty”
a. law = Christ paved the way and taught the way to freedom. (Luke 19:10; John 14:6)
(1) Luke 24:47 - remission - “1) release from bondage or imprisonment 2) forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty” (Ibid.)
(2) Mark 16:15-16 - Shall be saved
(3) Matthew 28:18 - Making disciples
b. liberty = Freedom from bondage to sin. (Romans 6:1-7)
B. What does it mean to “look into the perfect law of liberty?”
1. “look” - parakupto {par-ak-oop’-to} - “1) to stoop to a thing in order to look at it . . . 5) metaph. to look carefully into, inspect curiously 5a) of one who would become acquainted with something” (Ibid.)
2. To look into the law of liberty is to study the law of liberty. (Ex. Acts 17:11-12)
3. Other examples of those who looked into the law of liberty.
a. The 3000 (Acts 2:36-47)
b. The Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)
c. Cornelius (Acts 10:17-48)
d. Lydia (Acts 16:11-15)
e. The jailor (Acts 16:25-34)
f. Apollos (Acts 18:24-28)
II. STEP TWO: CONTINUE IN THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY.
A. Looking into the perfect law of liberty is not enough. As the text says, we must continue in the perfect law of liberty. In order to continue in the perfect law of liberty, we must: (James 1:21-27)
1. Lay aside all filthiness and wickedness.
a. filthiness - “1) to make filthy, befoul 2) to defile, dishonour 3) to make filthy” (Ibid.)
b. wickedness (naughtiness, KJV) - “1) malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure 2) wickedness, depravity 2a) wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws 3) evil, trouble” (Ibid.)
2. Receive with meekness the implanted word.
3. Be doers.
4. Examples of being doers:
a. Tongue (19,20)
b. Benevolence (27)
c. Keep unspotted from the world (27)
d. Say no to temptations (12-18)
e. Humility (9-11)
f. Pray for wisdom and endure trials (1-8)
B. Being a doer is the simple principle of doing what the Bible says. It is all a matter of faith and obedience.
CONCLUSION.
A. Are you happy or blessed in all that you do? You can be if you will look into the perfect law of liberty and continue there in.
1. If you are not a Christian, then look into the perfect law of liberty and obey God’s word to do.
2. If you are a Christian, then you are to continue in that perfect law of liberty.
B. Look to the perfect law of liberty and continue there in.
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How to Be Happy In What You Do -- May 5, 2002 -- File # 1035
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK