“God just wants me to be happy,” says the person who loves himself more than God. He (or she) won’t admit that, of course, but that’s the implication. Some people just want to do what they want to do and when someone challenges their worldview with Scripture, and calls on them to change, they will scoff and act bewildered: “If I do what you (the Bible, actually) tell me to do, then I won’t get to do this thing that makes me happy. I don’t understand. Doesn’t God want me to be happy?!”
No, He doesn’t.
To be clear, God doesn’t want you to be miserable, but His commands aren’t given to make you miserable, nor are they too hard to do (1 John 5:3). But if you’re attitude is “I’ll do what God wants as long as it doesn’t interfere with what makes me happy,” then no, God doesn’t want that. God doesn’t want you to be happy, per se; He wants you to make Him happy.
“Where does God get the right to have that kind of attitude toward me?”
He gets it from…are you ready for this?…BEING GOD!
If you love the Lord, you’ll serve the Lord, and if you love the Lord, you’ll be happy serving the Lord. The circumstances won’t always make you happy, but with a little perspective, you’ll find a reason to rejoice (Matthew 5:3-10). If you want to serve yourself, if you want to serve and satisfy your own desires, then don’t be surprised when God says “choose.” You’re either going to serve God or self, and if you’re going to serve God, then your mentality must be that of a servant.
He is your Master. You’re here to make Him happy. Live for Him and be blessed for your service.
~Matthew