“To be blessed is to be accepted and approved by God whether or not circumstances seem to confirm or deny it. Blessedness produces unassailable happiness and joy regardless of circumstances.”- Rich Villodas
In Chapter 2 (“Unexpected Happiness”) of The Narrow Path, Rich Villodas notes that Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with a primer on true happiness. Furthermore, we refer to His sermon’s brief snippets on true happiness as the Beatitudes.
Consequently, in His beatitudes, Jesus fails to describe happiness in the way most people view it. Most people primarily describe happiness in terms of emotions or feelings. However, in contrast, Jesus describes a subversive and surprising way of life. Jesus offers and upside-down existence that upsets our understanding of who’s on top and who’s on bottom.
Therefore, Rich explains:
“[Jesus] details what the good life truly is and who the blessed ones truly are. Notice that rather than having a list of to-dos, he begins his sermon by letting us know who is blessed. By starting there, he clarifies that those in his kingdom don’t work for blessing but from blessing. Jesus’ disciples don’t have to seek blessing; they are already blessed by God.”
Certainly, Rich acknowledges, we want to be like those we deem as blessed. But Jesus flips the script on this culturally loaded word. Because our culture seduces us into a vision of the good life based on criteria such as good physical health, plenty of money, a positive outlook, and acclaim. And the fewer challenges one must face, the better.
Hence, those basing their lives on this model find themselves upset by Jesus’ radically different scorecard. A scorecard that rejects our cultural brand of success.
Above all, God knows the plusses of spiritual disruption. Especially when the prevailing premise about the good life puts us in dangerous waters. As a result, we desperately need the disruption God supplies.
Today’s question: What most helps you feel accepted and approved by God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “More than a crutch for the weak”