In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
One day I was reading the fifth chapter of Matthew. I’ve read that chapter hundreds of times, but this time I had a revelation about it: It is a blueprint for happiness.
The descriptions of what you must do to be happy go on through the whole chapter. And it says not only to love your friends, but also to love your enemies and pray for those who mistreat you. Then the great sermon rises to a climax when it says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
You may say, “That is unattainable. That is too hard.”
That is why Jesus is Jesus. He put it high because He believed that there was something great in human beings.
He tried to get us to see that if you have what it takes to rise to this challenge, you will find happiness in a way you cannot find it anywhere else. If you are courageous enough to take it, your life will be great.
One day, I stopped for lunch with a friend whom I’ve known for many years. This man is really one of the most inspirational men I have ever known. I greeted him by saying, “I just met a man who told me it was impossible to be happy anymore.”
“No happiness?” he asked. Then he reached in his pocket and pulled out a card. This is what it said:
TAKE TIME TO LAUGH: It is the music of the soul.
TAKE TIME TO PLAY: It is the source of perpetual youth.
TAKE TIME TO PRAY: It is the greatest power on earth.
TAKE TIME TO LOVE AND BE LOVED: It is a God-given privilege.
TAKE TIME TO BE FRIENDLY: It is the road to happiness.
TAKE TIME TO GIVE: It is too short a day to be selfish.
I was impressed by this but said to my friend: “There is one thing left out. I’d like to add it, if you don’t mind.”
TAKE TIME FOR GOD: It is the way to life.
And it is, too.
