I understand the word happy in terms of a spiritual estate holds some disfavor. And it is surely true that to be blessed (as the text more accurately reads except for the KJV) may often be other than an experience of what one might call happy. Blessed at all times may not be happy at all times. But we might no less appreciate that, if it be an instruction (or at least encouragement) to be “joyful in tribulation(s)”, we are no less left with some impetus to investigate how this is to be so.
We might easily say “joy is a far deeper estate of being than mere happiness, blessedness no less, far deeper than just being happy which appears a quite ephemeral thing in its coming and going of experience.” Sometimes happy, sometimes other or sad, but the joy of the Lord is steadfast. Yes. And I couldn’t agree more. But what man ever seeks after unhappiness? Yes, we discover this life often has what appear as layers, and that any, if not most and all experience, always points to something deeper. And we might no less agree this is always (as all things purposed for us and to us by God) to the knowledge of the Son of God as He is in truth, though even if admitting we see through a glass darkly.
So, if there be any offense in what appears a blessedness being conflated with (at least some) experience of happiness, I cannot but be willing to bear accusation of error in causing that offense. Would one be pushing that envelope to say “he is happy to do so”? I believe I would be lying full throatedly to say anything other than this: “this life in Christ has shown me more usually, if not always and in almost every circumstance…wrong…about the way I have perceived things.” Even if I say I have some knowledge of, or understanding of, that things are “different” in Christ, I have little to no testimony that until shown, I have ever known how very different they are.
If, with one saying I declare “God is merciful”, I cannot exclude my experience(s) of His showing Himself far more merciful than I knew. Patient? Likewise. Kind? Loving…caring, attentive, powerful, without lie, uninhibited by my opinion, Knower of all things deeper and deepest in such thoroughness as to cause one like me to appear to myself as one knowing nothing at all? I fear (if I may) to occupy some other estate would exclude me (and any like me) from salvation. For I find a prohibiting that keeps me from far straying from this:
“Forgive them Father, they know not what they do”
Is it forgiveness for only what is made able to admit to being that “not knower”?
Does that admission itself then confer some sort of betterness that the man could now say “yeah, I used to not know what I was doing…but now…now I know all my own intents (and they are now right, by golly!) about everything”? I cannot tell you all the times such thinking has blown up in my face. But, even there I may be far more wrong than I know. Is there still mercy? For the man who (perhaps) should know better? If not…what is mercy then? Unless there be some happiness reserved to the man who ends up being shown wrong about everything (to whatever extent it pleases God to show) what is salvation…then?
A man may get hung up on seemingly (to some) small things, even matters seemingly overlooked or he has never found mention of by others…but to him stands out like either a sore thumb or a glaring light in a darkness he seeks to navigate. Or they may be things he has never yet found highlighted by others because…admittedly…the man hasn’t read nor heard every man in every generation speak. So, if reading it in the scripture (for at least one man said it, wrote it) it now goes off like a flash bang grenade in his mind. This seems small, but is it? A man wrote it himself, and of himself.
“…and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.” 1 Cor 7:40
Paul writes it after offering his opinion as to what might be (according to him) “best practice” amongst widows in the Lord. Earlier in the same chapter he says another curious thing:
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: 7:12
I will not seek to tackle here and now what is rather perplexing, and must be, among any who make claim all the scriptures are most plainly all the “word(s) of God”. For here are recorded in the scriptures themselves words written by a man (called to be an apostle if one receives him as such) that he specifically states are not “of the Lord” but of himself. It should not be hard for any to see at least, some need of resolution.
And to the some, or any, or many (for only God knows who may eventually read this) that may too quickly think this is some attempt to either overthrow the faith of some, or cast troubling doubt to any, God forbid. And again, God forbid. I am unashamed to be found as one who himself has labored amongst layers, and entirely unconvinced that any peeling back, (or deeper looking) when plainly presented as required, is ever anything less than salubrious to any other saint.
Of course I cannot force this to any, having no dominion over another’s faith, but neither can I deny, if the scriptures can indeed not be broken, as I am persuaded, what I read. They are written to an end. And if it be not solely for the, or a, coming to Christ (of which the Lord claims they testify), and the knowledge of Him, I care for no other use of them.
And God here also forbid any denial I may be too familiar myself with a man who loves to present himself strident. A man who often thinks himself a petite pope.
And if able to forego (for now)
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord:
I would prefer to focus upon:
“…and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.”
What are our first thoughts here? Need we have any? Dismiss them? Surely we could, made even all the more convenient if considering the overwhelming foibles plain to the man now writing. With a sort of “who does he think he is to direct any’s attention to anything? This guy’s a total mess! Far better to leave off (or maybe shelve) anything he has to say about anything” Yep, very little there with which I cannot easily agree…but for this, those words are there.
Would our first thoughts be “Hey wait a minute Paul…’…and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.’? Really? After all you have written, after all your labor(s), after all your testimony (and our oft quoting you to some necessary incumbency to be felt by all believers)…really…this is what you got? “…and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.”? You sure look(ed) like one who thundered as from Sinai, one who laid it all out, one who came behind in no gift, one who not only is able to be a “good example”…but even precisely purposed to be so…c’mon man…we need a little more solidity than “I think also”!”
B-B-B-But (do I have a stuttering tongue?) what if this too seeming confession of a too great humility before the saints is precisely that very humility of Christ worked into a man…that actually makes him a faithful witness? Layers. Layers. What if what only at first seems a less than surety…is the very thing that is itself the surety? Oh, but we may like our leader(s) to always thunder…not knowing that the very appeal of that is that we too might then partake…especially if we covet some form of being esteemed…as leader or otherwise?
Oh, yeah…Jesus warned about a certain leaven to be careful of in looking after and loving the chief seats. Loving greetings and acknowledgments in the marketplace(s). Yeah, titles, positions, esteems of men, being able to, so “wisely” in one’s own eyes advise others. Tell others…”how to do”. What…”to do.” Do you consider, would you consider a man might find “man but that vein really runs deep, don’t it Jesus? Wow! What could ever go ‘under that’ to unseat it in such a great representation of its presentation of worthiness?! Yeah! It sure seems…glorious!”
Man, all I can say to you or any is I know a man who falls there…every single time. And a man who does not. And the man who does not…is not me.
But hey! You already knew that.
(But I am just beginning to find that out)
What may be easy for you to see…what may even be easy for you to do…is all of the impossible for me.
I always coveted wanting to be a man of substance…what a foolish thing for a vapor to aspire to…(but I am just beginning to find that out).
My only hope is that even a vapor can be moved…by a stronger wind. And rise.
And see true substance. It is enough.
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