How do people become happy?

1. Many of the younger generations over the past 50 or so years here in the USA are not happy!  Especially the Millennials characteristics. Millennials have been characterized in a number of different ways. On the negative side, they've been described as lazy, narcissistic and prone to jump from job to job.

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 Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, then all the other parts of your life will before filled and follow in proper order! Follow the attached study which covers how and why you can become transposed into the Eternal Character which you were meant to be! 

Matthew 6:10

Note on Matthew 6:10

This is speaking of God’s power and authority. This is essential to remind ourselves that God can do anything. Then we pray that God’s will to be done on the earth even as it is in heaven. In heaven, everything is according to God’s will. So let it be on earth. There is no sickness in heaven, no sin, no poverty, no strife. That’s God’s will for this earth too.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 30 at Matthew 6:10: The word “kingdom” means “a political or territorial unit ruled by a sovereign.” When applied to God, it could refer to all creation, since “his kingdom ruleth over all” (Psalms 103:19), but “kingdom” more often applies to His rule in and through those who are submitted to Him. The parables of the kingdom in Matthew 13 are clearly referring to the church. Compared with Luke 17:21, we see that “the kingdom of God” more specifically refers to Christ living and ruling in our hearts. So, praying “thy kingdom come” is praying for the expansion and influence of God’s rule in the hearts of people everywhere and ultimately, the establishment of His physical kingdom here on earth at His second coming (Revelation 11:15 and 20:4).
The term “kingdom of heaven” is a term found thirty-three times in Matthew’s Gospel. By comparing Matthew 13:31 with Mark 4:30-31, it can be seen that the “kingdom of God” and the “kingdom of heaven” are identifying the same thing.
Note 31 at Matthew 6:10: God’s Word reveals (or is) His will (examples: 2 Peter 3:9 and 3 John 2). Praying for God’s will means praying in agreement with His Word (compare with Psalms 103:20 and 1 John 5:14-15).
Note 32 at Matthew 6:10: We do not have to live beggarly existences here on this earth and just wait till we all get to heaven to begin experiencing the benefits of our salvation. Jesus told us to pray “thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” In heaven, He will wipe away all tears from our eyes (Revelation 21:4), so here on earth we can pray and believe to receive “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). Healing, prosperity, and all the other benefits of heaven are ours here on earth to the degree that we can believe and receive them.

Matthew 6:11

Note on Matthew 6:11

This is not a request. It’s a demand, albeit a loving demand. This is like children coming to their parents for something to eat. What would you think of children who had to beg for their food? That would be a reflection on the parents. Many Christians see God as not inclined to provide their needs, so they beg God or try to manipulate Him. This is a terrible reflection on their lack of understanding. We should come boldly before His throne of GRACE to receive what we need.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the word “ask” can mean “to expect or demand...to invite.” It’s in this sense that we are to ask for things from the Lord. He is already disposed to meet our needs. In fact, He already has. But we have not because we ask not (James 4:2). Through faith, we have to place a demand on what God has already provided by grace (Ephesians 2:8).
If I told a friend he could use my car on a certain day, then he came up to me on that day and asked, “Can I use your car?” those words could mean two totally different things. They could mean “Were you telling me the truth? Can I really use your car?” Or they could mean “I really believe you. You promised, and I’m here to receive what you promised. Let me use your car.” The exact same words can be two totally different approaches.
Predominately, the church takes the first approach when dealing with God. They don’t really believe the promises of God, so they ask in unbelief, hoping that God will do something. But the superior approach is to believe that God has already provided all we will ever need, come boldly (Hebrews 4:16), and appropriate by faith what God has already provided by grace (see my note at Ephesians 2:8).

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 33 at Matthew 6:11: Notice that Jesus didn’t instruct us to pray for a year’s supply of bread. The Jews, whom God miraculously sustained for forty years in the wilderness by giving them angels’ food (Psalms 78:24-25) to eat, had to gather the manna every day. They could not gather more than one day’s supply at a time (except before the Sabbath) or it would rot (Exodus 16:19-21). Exodus 16:4 says that the Lord gave them their bread daily to “prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” The Lord desires for the just to live by faith (Galatians 3:11); that is, to make it a lifestyle, not just a once-in-a-while occurrence.

Matthew 6:12

Note on Matthew 6:12

Luke 11:4 records this same prayer and uses the word “sins” in place of the word “debts” that Matthew uses here. Therefore, it is to be understood that this is speaking of our moral debts, or sins, against the Lord.

Matthew 6:13

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 34 at Matthew 6:13: God is not the source of our temptation (James 1:13). Satan is called the tempter (Matthew 4:3 and 1 Thessalonians 3:5). So why did Jesus instruct us to pray that the Father would not lead us into temptation? This is simply a request for guidance so that we can be delivered from evil. The Father would no more lead us into temptation than He would withhold our daily bread. But, as stated in James 4:2, “ye have not, because ye ask not.” Both “give us...our daily bread” and “lead us not into temptation” are simply requests for what has already been provided for us. This part of prayer serves as a reminder to us of God’s promised protection (Psalms 91) and gives us an opportunity to release our faith and appropriate what has already been provided.

Matthew 6:14

Note on Matthew 6:14

See my note at Mark 11:25.

Matthew 6:16

Note on Matthew 6:16

Just as Jesus said about prayer (Matthew 6:5), hypocrites love to fast. Therefore, it is the motive of the heart, and not the action, that is important (see my note at 1 Corinthians 13:3).

Matthew 6:17

Note on Matthew 6:17

This is simply saying we should groom ourselves as normal so there will not be an outward indication of our fast.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 35 at Matthew 6:17: It was a Jewish custom to anoint oneself with olive oil (Deuteronomy 28:40, Ruth 3:3, 2 Samuel 12:20, and 2 Chronicles 28:15), and in Jesus’ day, it was apparently customary to anoint the heads of your guests also (Luke 7:46). Sometimes ointment or perfumes were used in this personal anointing (Amos 6:6, Luke 7:38, and John 12:3). A lack of having one’s head anointed was associated with mourning or sorrow (2 Samuel 14:2 and Daniel 10:3). Therefore, in this verse, Jesus was saying that there should be no external sign of fasting or sorrow, but it should be done secretly to the Lord to receive a full reward.
Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 7:5 that abstinence from the physical relationship in marriage for the purpose of fasting should not be done without the consent of your mate. Therefore, it can be concluded that a fast does not always have to be totally secretive to be productive. Rather, Jesus was once again dealing with the motives behind the actions. The fast must be directed toward God and not man. Compare with the motives spoken of in notes 25-26 at Matthew 6:1 and 3.

Matthew 6:18

Note on Matthew 6:18

If our fast is in secret to God, He rewards us openly. If our fast is to impress people, we aren’t rewarded by God. It all depends on whom we are trying to impress.

Matthew 6:19

Note on Matthew 6:19

The Greek for the phrase “lay not up” is literally “THESAURIZO ME THESAURIZO.” THESAURIZO means “to amass or reserve (literally or figuratively)” (Strong’s Concordance). The word ME means “a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)” (Strong’s Concordance). This means this command not to lay up treasure for ourselves is not absolute. In fact, there are scriptures that encourage us to lay up treasures for ourselves and our offspring. 2 Corinthians 12:14 says, “For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” How could the Lord bless our store (Deuteronomy 28:5) if we never store anything up? We cannot leave an inheritance for our grandchildren if we never save anything. “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just” (Proverbs 13:22).
How does Jesus’ statement here square with commands given to us to leave an inheritance for our children’s children? The answer is that this is not laying up treasure for ourselves. We are laying up treasure for our children and grandchildren. I think this could be expanded to say that prosperity, so that we can bless others or the kingdom of God, is not a violation of this verse.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 36 at Matthew 6:19: If isolated from the rest of God’s Word, there are some scriptures that could be interpreted to say that having money or wealth is wrong (Psalms 37:16; Proverbs 10:2, 11:4, 28, 13:7, 15:16-17, 16:8, 23:4-5, 28:8, 20, 22, 30:8-9; Ecclesiastes 5:10-15; Jeremiah 9:23; Matthew 6:19-34, 13:22, 19:23-24; Luke 12:15-21; 1 Timothy 6:4-11, and 17-19). However, there are other scriptures that speak of riches as a blessing (Genesis 13:2, 6, 24:35; Deuteronomy 8:18, 28:1-14; 1 Kings 3:11-13, 10:21-23; 2 Kings 20:13; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Job 1:3; Psalms 112:3; Proverbs 3:13-16, 8:1, 18, 21, 21:20; Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:28-30; 2 Corinthians 8:9; and 3 John 2).
The harmony between these two apparently opposite positions is that money is neither good nor bad. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and many have committed that sin who don’t have a dime. The love of things (covetousness) is idolatry and that is what Jesus was addressing.
Jesus gave this same teaching another time, recorded in Luke 12:22-32. His teaching in Luke (which is nearly word for word the same as here in Matthew 6) was in response to a man who asked Jesus to arbitrate the dividing of his family’s inheritance. Jesus warned the man concerning covetousness, taught a parable about the rich fool, and then spoke of seeking first the kingdom of God. Through this, it is easy to see that Jesus was not speaking against riches but rather covetousness.
Because it is so easy to lust after money and the things it can provide, the Lord established a system whereby prosperity is a byproduct of putting God first. As Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We should no more reject the blessing of prosperity than we should covet it, which would be idolatry.

Matthew 6:20

Note on Matthew 6:20

This makes it very clear that we can store up treasures in heaven. We can’t take any monetary wealth with us to heaven, but we can send it on ahead of us, not in cash but through turning it into something nonperishable. Jesus said that giving to the poor was laying up treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:21, Luke 12:33). We can use money to impact people’s lives with the Gospel, and then they will welcome us into heaven (Luke 16:9).

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 37 at Matthew 6:20: We can’t take it (money) with us (to heaven), but we can send it on before us. Matthew 19:21 says that through giving to the poor, we are laying up treasure in heaven. Compare with Proverbs 19:17.

Matthew 6:21

Note on Matthew 6:21

It’s very interesting that Jesus didn’t say, “Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.” But Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” We can use money to direct our hearts towards God and the things of God. Our hearts will go where our greatest investment has already gone.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 38 at Matthew 6:21: The reason for not laying up treasures on this earth is so that we will not have our hearts drawn away from the things of God (Mark 4:19). A key to success in the kingdom of God is singleness of purpose (Proverbs 23:7; Philippians 3:13, and 4:8). We don’t have the capacity to do our best in two areas at the same time (Matthew 6:24 and James 3:1-2). Therefore, if we will simply put God and His kingdom first in every area of our lives, He will add unto us all the wealth that we need (Matthew 6:33). “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). It’s when we covet after money that we pierce ourselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).

Matthew 6:22

Note on Matthew 6:22

The context of this verse is speaking of money. The reason Jesus makes the statements in this verse is to illustrate how we cannot be occupied with money and the kingdom at the same time. If we will seek first the kingdom of God, then money will be added unto us supernaturally by God. But if we seek money first, it will turn our hearts away from the Lord. Our eye, or focus or attention, has to be single upon the Lord.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 39 at Matthew 6:22: Jesus was speaking of spiritual vision. If we keep our attention (eye) single upon Jesus, the Word (John 1:1 and 14), then all that we will be filled with is the light of His Word (Psalms 119:105). The key to victory is this singleness of purpose (Philippians 3:13). The strength of the laser lies in the fact that all of the light is concentrated on one single point. Likewise, the strength of Christians lies in how single our vision is upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Matthew 6:23

Note on Matthew 6:23

The previous verse spoke of being single in our vision. Now Jesus contrasts that singleness of purpose and vision with what He calls an evil eye here. Therefore, we conclude that an evil eye is anything that is not single upon the Lord, or as Proverbs 28:22 says, “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.” We should seek first the kingdom of God and all the things we need will be added unto us.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 40 at Matthew 6:23: Jesus was contrasting an evil eye with the single eye just mentioned (Matthew 6:22). An evil eye is simply when we allow our thoughts to be anything less than single upon Jesus (James 1:8).
Note 41 at Matthew 6:23: As light is symbolic of God and His kingdom (Isaiah 9:2; John 1:4-9, 8:12; and 1 John 1:5), so darkness symbolizes Satan and his kingdom (John 1:5, 3:19; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 John 1:6, and 2:11). Not having our minds stayed on Jesus gives Satan an inroad into our lives (Romans 8:6). If we are setting our affections on things of this earth (Colossians 3:1-4), then Satan and the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11) will dominate us.

Matthew 6:24

Note on Matthew 6:24

The Message translates this verse as “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.”
The passages in Luke where the word “mammon” is used clearly refer to money (Luke 16:9 and 11). We can’t serve God and money at the same time, hence the instructions of these verses.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 42 at Matthew 6:24: You can have God and riches, but you must only serve one of them.

Matthew 6:25

Note on Matthew 6:25

Notice the use of the word “therefore.” This is saying the arguments of this verse and the ones following are the results of what he had just said. He was talking about not laying up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19) but putting all our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20) because our hearts will be where our treasures are (Matthew 6:21). If our attention is on money, our hearts become dark. We have to have a single focus upon God (Matthew 6:22-23). We can’t be slaves to money and God at the same time (Matthew 6:24).
The carnal mind would say, “Then how can I survive if I’m focused on God instead of meeting my needs?” Jesus pointed us to examples in nature of how God provides for His creation and concluded with the truth that we are much more valuable to God than birds or lilies. Therefore, God will take care of us when we put Him first (Matthew 6:33).
The last phrase of this verse makes a very profound statement that most people haven’t come to realize. People’s lives consist of more than food and raiment. The intangible matters of the heart are much more important than the tangible things they need to survive (Proverbs 4:23). Yet people’s obsession with carnal things screams that they don’t know this truth.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 43 at Matthew 6:25: The Greek word used here for “thought” is “MERIMNAO” and denotes “to be anxious about” (Strong’s Concordance) (example: 1 Samuel 9:5). In this account (Matthew 6:25-34), as well as the same account found in Luke 12:22-32, Jesus was commanding us not to worry or be anxious about our material needs being met. It would not be possible to have no thought whatsoever about our physical needs. Even Jesus thought about His need for money to pay taxes (Matthew 17:24-27). We are simply not to be occupied with thinking about riches or spend time worrying about our necessities. They will be added unto us as we seek first the kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:26

Note on Matthew 6:26

Did you read in the paper where thousands of birds were found dead in the streets of your town because they had starved to death? NO, and you never will! God takes responsibility for feeding the birds. They don’t have to practice the laws of sowing and reaping; God just takes care of them. If the Lord does this for birds, how much more will He do this for us? We don’t have to serve money. If we just serve God and do as He leads, the money we need will be there.
Notice that the Lord said people are much better than birds. This doesn’t mean people should mistreat birds. Proverbs 12:10 shows that godly people treat animals well. This new morality, though, where people go to great lengths to save endangered animals while killing unborn humans is total hypocrisy.

Matthew 6:27

Note on Matthew 6:27

We cannot make ourselves taller by worrying about it. We just grow; we don’t know-how. Our height isn’t determined by how tall we desire to be. It just happens. We eat, we exercise, and we just grow. Likewise, we should just seek the Lord and His kingdom first, and God will open the doors and provide the opportunities we need to prosper.

Matthew 6:28

Note on Matthew 6:28

Flowers don’t clothe themselves. They don’t weave material or go shopping. They are clothed by God, and their attire is greater than even what the richest person on earth wears. If God bestows such beauty on a flower, which only lasts a few months and then is destroyed, how much more will the Lord take care of clothing us? Just like the lily, if God clothes us, it won’t be shabby. It will be beautiful.

Matthew 6:29

Note on Matthew 6:29

There are people who would differ with this assessment, yet God’s opinion is the only one that really matters. In God’s eye, a lily is more beautiful than anything a man can create. God, help me to see as You see.

Matthew 6:30

Note on Matthew 6:30

Those who do not see God as their source but think they have to provide for themselves have little faith. Trusting God in our finances is the least demand on faith (Luke 16:10). If we can’t do that which is least, we are deceiving ourselves to think we can do the greater.

Matthew 6:31

Note on Matthew 6:31

Anxious thoughts will come. As Kenneth Hagin said, “We can’t keep a bird from flying overhead, but we can keep a bird from lighting in our hair and making a nest there.” The way we keep these anxious thoughts from becoming our thoughts is that we never voice these fears. You take thoughts or make them your own by saying them.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 44 at Matthew 6:31: The way we take or receive anxious thoughts is by speaking them. Doubtful thoughts will come, but it is not sinning until we entertain them (see note 17 at Matthew 5:28). According to this verse, speaking forth these thoughts is one way of entertaining them. Therefore, don’t speak forth these negative thoughts (compare with Proverbs 6:2, 13:3, 18:20-21; and Matthew 12:36-37).

Matthew 6:32

Note on Matthew 6:32

Lost men are consumed with worry about how they will make ends meet. Born-again men should not be that way. You may then ask, “If I’m not consumed with these things, who will be?” The answer is that God knows what you need better than you do. If you would seek Him first in your life, God will take care of your prosperity.
Notice that this verse switches from speaking about what you think to using the word “seek.” Jesus was using these terms interchangeably. Keeping your mind on the right things is equal to seeking the Lord. Therefore, you can’t really be seeking the Lord without keeping your mind stayed on Him.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 45 at Matthew 6:32: Technically, a Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew. The term came to be synonymous with “heathen” or “pagan” since all Gentiles were “strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12), and it is used in that sense here.

Matthew 6:33

Note on Matthew 6:33

What are the “things” Jesus is speaking about? They are the things listed in the previous verses. Specifically, the Lord said what we need to eat, where we sleep, and what we are clothed with will all be taken care of by God if we will seek first and foremost the Lord and His righteousness. If we put God first in our lives, God will supernaturally take care of our needs.
When God starts supplying our needs, He will do it better than we ever could. God is El Shaddai, not El Cheapo. He paves His streets with pure gold, and He makes His gates out of pearls (Revelation 21:21). God is extravagant. When He starts being our provider, His supply will be extravagant. If we aren’t tempted to be embarrassed at God’s abundant provision, then we haven’t fully tapped into His supply.
Notice the use of the word “first.” This is speaking of priorities. We have to focus some attention on earthly things, but they should never be our priority. God and His kingdom should always come first in our priorities, and when they are, He supernaturally takes care of all the natural things we need.

Matthew 6:34

Note on Matthew 6:34

This is speaking of anxious thoughts or worries. The NIV translates this, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow...”

**  From: Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.