Billy Graham - The Secret of Happiness

BILLY GRAHAM

The Secret of Happiness

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Scripture, unless otherwise indicated, is from the Authorized King James Version.Those marked rsv are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, 1946, 1952, 1971, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and used by permission. Quotations marked amp are from The Amplified Bible, 1965 by Zondervan Publishing House.

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Quotations marked tlb are from The Living Bible, 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois. 60189.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Graham, Billy, 1918.
The secret of happiness

1. BeatitudesCriticism, interpretation, etc.

2. HappinessReligious aspectsChristianity.

I. Title. bt382.g7 1985 226'.9306 85.16934

ISBN 978-0.8499.0508.7

ISBN 978-0.8499.4381.2 (trade paper)

ISBN 978-0.8499.1478.2 (gift)

Printed in the United States of America
08 09 10 11 12 qw 13 12 11 10 9

To my mother and father, whose dedicated lives taught me The Secret of Happiness

Contents

I SAT DOWN to write a book on The Greatest Sermon Ever Preachedthe Sermon on the Mountbut I got no further than the eight Beatitudes. The more I read them, meditated on them, and studied them, the more I realized that Christ was giving a formula for personal happiness that applied to anyone, no matter what his race, geographical situation, age, or circumstance! I have based my comments on the beautiful and beloved King James Version of the Beatitudes, although I follow the suggestion of scholars and many modern Bible translations who use the word happy for blessed since it suggests joy in the midst of real life.

When trying to put these thoughts on paper, I consulted with other writers. In these few statements Jesus shares almost the whole depth and scope of His teaching. As someone has said, The character which we find in the Beatitudes is beyond all question, nothing less than our Lords own character put into words. It is a description set side by side with an example.

The Beatitudes are revolutionary! Startling! Deeply profound, and yet amazingly simple! If applied on a universal scale, they could transform the world in which we live.

If you apply these simple formulae in your own personal life, you can never be the same!

As I have restudied the Beatitudes to prepare for this revised edition I have been amazed again at the timelessness and universal nature of these teachings of Jesus. I have sensed afresh the depth and challenge of these brief words of our Lord. In this revised edition I have made numerous minor changes to bring the book up to date and make it practical. I also have included some additional insights which I have gathered since the first edition was published in 1955. But the Word of God does not change, nor does its power to change our lives. Just as Christ brought hope and new life to those who first gathered in Galilee to hear the Sermon on the Mount, so He can bring hope and new life to us today as we understand His truth, commit ourselves to it, and live each day in its light.

In the first edition, my friend and assistant Lee Fisher was a tremendous help. In this revised edition, my wife, Ruth, my daughter Gigi Tchividjian, my able research assistant Dr. John Akers, and Word editor Al Bryant have been indispensable. I am deeply grateful also to my administrative assistant Stephanie Wills for her invaluable counsel, advice, and for keeping us on track.

It is my prayer that as you read this book, and as you meditate on the Beatitudes themselves, you will realize that these ancient truths are as modern as tomorrow. They can change your life and point the way to true and lasting happinessbecause they will point you to Christ and His timeless principles for living.

One final note: I have used the word man in this book, along with the appropriate pronouns that follow it, in the generic sense of the term, to mean the human race in its most inclusive sense.

Billy Graham, Montreat, NC
August1985

SINCE ITS FIRST PUBLICATION more than forty years ago, Dr. Billy Grahams The Secret of Happiness has offered inspiration to thousands in pursuit of this elusive goal. The eight guideposts Dr. Graham points to have helped us through decades of war, turmoil, and world change and have shown us how to maintain genuine happiness in their midst. While some world situations and statistics have changed since the books most recent revision, our need to know the secret of happiness has not. W Publishing Group is pleased, therefore, to join Dr. Graham in reaffirming the timeless truths found in the Beatitudes by republishing this devotional classic, as revised in 1985. May you be blessed as you continue your own search for true contentment and joy.

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spirituallyprosperouswith life-joy and satisfactionin Gods favor and salvation, regardless oftheir outward conditions) are the poor inspirit.... Matthew 5:3, amp

A FRENCH PHILOSOPHER once said, The whole world is on a mad quest for security and happiness. A former president of Harvard University observed, The world is searching for a creed to believe and a song to sing.

A Texas millionaire confided, I thought money could buy happinessI have been miserably disillusioned. A famous film star broke down: I have money, beauty, glamour, and popularity. I should be the happiest woman in the world, but I am miserable. Why? One of Britains top social leaders said, I have lost all desire to live, yet I have everything to live for. What is the matter?

The poet Amy Wilson Carmichael wrote:

The lonely, dreary road he trod.
Enter into my joy, said God.
The sad ascetic shook his head,
Ive lost all taste for joy, he said.

A man went to see a psychiatrist. He said, Doctor, I am lonely, despondent, and miserable. Can you help me? The psychiatrist suggested that he go to a circus and see a famous clown who was said to make even the most despondent laugh with merriment. His patient said, I am that clown.

A college senior said, I am twenty-three. I have lived through enough experiences to be old, and I am already fed up with life.

A famous Grecian dancer of a generation ago once said, I have never been alone but what my hands trembled, my eyes filled with tears, and my heart ached for a peace and happiness I have never found.

One of the worlds great statesmen said to me, I am an old man. Life has lost all meaning. I am ready to take a fateful leap into the unknown. Young man, can you give me a ray of hope?

The Christian, on the other hand, has a different perspective on the meaning of happiness. C. S. Lewis said, Joy is the serious business of heaven. He added, All His biddings are joys. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says, True holiness consists of doing the will of God with a smile.