Dear Christian friends:

A few days ago we read in the newspaper about the beautiful movie actress, Marie McDonald, that she killed herself. She had beauty, fame and pleasure, married and divorced six times. But she was not really happy. She was very unhappy she couldn't stand to live any more and took her own life.

That happens often. Rich and successful people kill themselves. Ernest Hemingway was another one. Most successful American writer.

Where can we find true, lasting happiness? In our text Jesus shows us where and how to find true happiness.

I. Often we are not happy, why?

A. We try to find happiness in the wrong places and things

1. Short lived

2. Earthly things so they pass away and with it our happiness.

3. Perhaps we try to find happiness in our good health. That too, passes away! The man in our text.

B. Sin is the reason why we are not happy.

1. We do not love God and live for His praise and glory. We are selfish, interested in our own praise and glory.

2. That's also the reason why we don't love our neighbor. Selfish. Even if we do have a nice home, cars, clothes and other things. If our neighbor or friend has a little bit better then we become jealous of him and are not satisfied with our old things and want new.

3. Because we are not satisfied we become jealous and unhappy. Then we lose friends and become more unhappy. Also our conscience blames us. Maybe we cheat or steal to get more and more money and things. Give little to church or United Fund. Then we are not happy and our conscience blames us.

Where can we find true happiness?

II. In Jesus. Jesus says to the sick unhappy man, "Be of good cheer (be happy) thy sin's be forgiven."

Although this man was still sick and lying helpless on the bed Jesus tells him to be happy. Why? Because Jesus forgives his sins. So you and I can be happy, too. Jesus has also suffered and died on the cross for our sins. We are selfish and greedy and with all our money and things still are not happy. (Marie McDonald beautiful movie actress killed herself this past week. She had plenty of money, beauty and fame. But she was not really happy. She was very unhappy and gave up hope and killed herself. Forty-two years old)

So let us come to Jesus and confess our sins that we are selfish and greedy and jealous and envious and not happy. Let us ask Him to forgive us and help us to stop thinking so much about our self. Let us ask Him to help us to love God and seek His praise and glory. Then we will also love our neighbor when he is successful and shake his hand and congratulate him. Not be jealous or envious.

Be happy in Jesus and live to give honor and praise to God. You will have a good chance to change your ways now again during our E.M.V. Many of our members are not living for God's honor and glory. Still too selfish and greedy. Give little or nothing for church. Always trying to race with other deaf, show-off jealous envy.

I hope many of our members will be sorry about their selfish ways and life and confess their sins and then seek for true happiness and pleasure in Jesus. You who have don't be tempted or give up. Continue resisting temptation and work for God. Then you will find true everlasting happiness.

Amen.