Is It Wrong to Be Happy?

[Denise]

"In Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, all the things he calls blessed or happy look like anything but . . . poverty, mourning and the like. Then he cries woe to those who are rich, full, and full of laughter.

So, does this mean that we must be miserable in this life to be happy in the next? For the key to Jesus’ teaching on happiness, click below:"

https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/me ... 9a0d26c8b0

[MarieT]

We must recall that Luke was writing about the Christ of hope for all the poor, downtrodden and marginalised who were suffering immensely. The Saviour brings them hope.

It is not wrong to be happy. Everything is a gift from God and should bring joy, whether its a new baby or spouse etc.

In the context of over 20 centuries ago, Luke's portrayal of the Saviour is just that - bringing hope to the poor and marginalised and reassuring of their "blessed" worth, while yet warning those who were set in their high positions or esteemed themselves, that their riches or idols are a stumbling block and God should be the centre of all their lives.

The message of over 20 centuries ago, still speaks to us today.
That is the beauty of Scripture, that it traverses time and space to bring meaning in a completely different (yet somewhat similar) occasion.