Our Mission 

To present Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to business and professional men and to develop Christian business and professional men to carry out the Great Commission.

Genesis 6.8-9 describes, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. NASB2020

As God prepares to destroy the world, regretting He had made man because of all the evil men were doing, God searched and found one man through whom He could preserve all of humanity. As the evil in the world increases, and certainly much evil is being done in the world today, we want God to find us favorable in His eyes.

As God looks upon the whole earth, considering it’s demise because of its disobedience to Him, we want Him to find us like Noah; righteous, blameless, and with Him. This is what Noah did to receive God’s favor. He was righteous. This means he placed obedience to God’s will as his first priority. Righteous living is living in obedience to God’s decrees that are righteous because He is righteous. It is not doing good as we think good, or as the public thinks good, but it is doing what God says is good as found in His word. Righteousness comes from being in God’s word in order to know God’s will so that we can obey Him in God’s world.

Second, Noah was blameless before men. Because Noah obeyed God, he was fair, just and good to men. The commands of God are weighted toward loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. Doing good to others, doing what is in the best interest of others, even at the cost of self, is what God commands in our relationship with others. Living this way causes others to speak well of us, to say we are blameless because we do no wrong to any man.

Finally, Noah walked with God. This means he pursued God, through scripture, through prayer, applying what he heard and saw in God and from God in his life. Noah wanted to know his God so he could enjoy his God having a personal relationship with God. This is what God wants for all of us, a personal relationship. God makes this possible through Jesus but we must pursue Jesus and we pursue Jesus when we seek to know Jesus through the Scriptures and through prayer as we congregate with God’s people who are likewise pursuing God.

By doing these things; obeying God, loving people, seeking God, we can become a man who finds favor with God.

Our Opportunities

1. Beginning this Wednesday January 12 CBMC is launching a new marketplace study using the bookMore Than Your Business Card: A Wake-up Call for Leaders Desiring to Follow Jesus in the Marketplace. We will review this book each week via zoom over the lunch hour. This study will help you see the value of your calling as a missionary to the marketplace. Buy the book then let mike know you will be joining him Wednesdays from noon to 12.45pm beginning January 12.
   
2. Beginning January 20th over the lunch hour, via zoom, CBMC is offering men under 40 a new study to help you become more effective as a man of God. We will review the book How to Ruin Your Life By 30: Nine Surprisingly Everyday Mistakes You Might Be Making Right Now. You must purchase the book on your own and register with me so you can receive the meeting link. Register here then invite your friends to join us for a lively discussion about growing as a man of God.        
                   
3. You can partner with us here: https://give.idonate.com/cbmc-inc/lansing 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com 

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

January 10, 2022 

Understanding That Joy Might Not Mean Happiness

By Jim Mathis 

The United States’ Declaration of Independence says that every person should have the right to pursue happiness. This does not guarantee, however, that we should expect to always be happy or even that happiness, in itself, is a right or something we should spend a lot of time pursuing. 

Happiness is closely related to happening – what is happening now. Winning the big game or getting a job promotion might make us happy. Losing our job or having a car wreck might make us unhappy. What is happening now – or what may happen two minutes from now – can dramatically alter our happiness. 

For this reason, happiness should not be confused with joy. Joy is a condition of the heart, a character trait, and part of who we are inwardly. Unlike happiness, joy is not dependent upon the current or changing circumstances. We might feel unhappy about what is going on in our lives now, and yet continue to experience joy that transcends any negative factors or influences. 

We might think of happiness as being like the weather. Weather changes daily, even hourly. Joy is more like climate. The change can be long, progress slowly, and often goes unnoticed. Joy can be related to optimism. A joyful attitude will affect how we react to circumstances. For example, if we lose a baseball game, we might be unhappy, but underlining joy will allow us to enjoy playing the game anyway. If our only goal is winning or losing, we be very happy or very unhappy depending upon the outcome. A joyful spirit, however, will temper the highs and lows and allow us to find more contentment in any situation. 

A sense of unhappiness whose source we cannot identify should serve as a warning light for us. Think of unhappiness as similar to the “Check Engine” light on our car dashboard. It might not indicate anything serious, or it could be a warning that we are allowing situations around us to control our thoughts. 

If we are constantly unhappy at work, maybe that indicates it is time to find a new job or at least our goals or approach to how we work. Short-term unhappiness, like the weather, is expected. Things do not always go our way. But long-term unhappiness requires attention. Interestingly, the Bible says little about happiness, but has much to say about joy. In fact, it tells us joy can be found during good times and bad: 

Joy comes through adversity. No one willing seeks suffering and hardship, but it can be a very effective builder of personal character. “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

Joy comes from strengthened faith. Challenging times, especially those clearly beyond our control, reveal where our trust and faith truly lie. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

Joy endures even when happiness flees. There are times in life when it seems that happiness has abandoned us forever, and yet through faith in God we can hold fast to joy that only He can provide. “Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:4-5). 

© 2022. Jim Mathis is a writer, photographer and small business owner in Overland Park, Kansas. His latest book is The Camel and the Needle, A Christian Looks at Wealth and Money. He formerly was executive director of CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

January 10, 2022 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. How would you define “happiness”? How would you define “joy”? 

1. Do you agree with the statement that happiness should not be confused with joy, and that at times they might even be mutually exclusive? Why or why not? 

1. Can you think of a time when you felt great unhappiness, but despite the circumstances you still felt a sense of profound inner joy? If so, explain the situation and how it affected you. 

1. The Bible tells us to rejoice, or to “consider it pure joy” when we confront severe trials in life? How do you react to this admonition? Has your perspective on this command changed in any way over the years? If so, how? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 16:11, 126:5-6; Isaiah 12:1-2; Corinthians 4:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com