How To Quantify Your Happiness

How To Quantify Your Happiness: Mutiny on the Bountiful

Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Dwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

In the year 1789, the crew of the HMS Bounty decided they'd rather go it alone and promptly placed their captain on a lifeboat in the south Pacific and waved goodbye. Could it be that some of us living here in the blessed and bountiful USA are perhaps not so different than that mutinous crew?
Saturday, June 21, 2014

More In This Series

06/28/2014
What do you get for the God who has everything? Especially if He already gave everything He had for you? Jesus gave us the answer in John 15:13 "Greater love has no man than this; to lay down one's life for one's friends."
05/10/2014
Contrary to what we've been taught, the latest research states that "Money Can Buy Happiness". Discover the surprising secret to a life of happiness and financial stability right now.
05/17/2014
In his famous poem Henry Wadsworth Longfellow embedded the key to happiness and a life of meaning. What secret lies within the Churchyard of Cambridge?

“How to Quantify Your Happiness: Mutiny on the Bountiful”

www.pmchurch.tv

  • □  “Mutiny on the Bounty”—The Tale
  • □  “Mutiny on the Bountiful—The Truth
    • Luke 12:16—“The of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.”

       Psalm 24:1—“The is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the , and all who live in it.”

      •   Psalm 50:12—“The is Mine, and that is in it.”
      •   “He’s Got the Whole in His Hands.”
      •   “ gave a certain rich man an abundant harvest.”
      •   David Redding: “You and I are rich beyond the wildest dreams of most [people] on

        earth—rich in groceries with freezers full of fresh vegetables right out of the garden in January, rich in health with magic immunity, miracle medicines and fabulous hospitals filled with Florence Nightingales for T.L.C. We are rich in hundreds of gasoline horses faster and far more comfortable than any camel—rich in houses with huge staffs of mechanical servants to do the laundry and the dishes and furnish whatever weather we wish inside. This parable begins with a little bit of our own autobiography. ‘The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully.’” (The Parables He Told 127)

    • Luke 12:16-19— times through the first person pronoun this rich man takes all the credit.

       It is no more a sin to be , than it is a virtue to be .

      •   Jesus neither condemned , nor did He commend .
      •   Deuteronomy 8:10-14—“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your

        God for the good land He has given you. Otherwise your heart will become

        and you will the LORD your God who redeemed you.”

    • Luke 12:20, 21

       David Redding: “This parable is very sad, but sad to shock us into happiness—to make us stop and take stock as the shadows lengthen over our lives. I think it is agreed that Americans are not so bad. But the question this story raises is not are we good or evil, but are we squandering eternity for a pocketful of pleasure.” (130-131).

      •   Christ’s Object Lessons: “To live for self is to perish. Covetousness, the desire of benefit for self’s sake, cuts the soul off from life. It is the spirit of Satan to get, to draw to self. It is the spirit of Christ to , to self for the good of others.” (259)
      •   isthemostpowerfulantidotethereisforselfishness/covetousness.
      •   Ellen White: “Continual starves covetousness to death.” (3T 548)
      •   So if you want to be “rich toward God,” if you want to be like God, .
    • The 90 Day Tithe Challenge/The 90 Day 2nd Tithe Challenge
    • 2 Corinthians 8:9—“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was

      , yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become .”
       “Be rich toward Me, even as I have been rich toward you.”
       “The Mutiny on the Bounty” and the Pitcairn

      Jesus: “Be rich toward God” 

Offering for April 25, 2026

Michigan Advance Partners

God still impresses His people to give sacrificially, without fanfare, to build up His work. The writer (Anthony) reported sitting in a meeting where the discussion centered on the commitment and benevolence of some donors. As he listened, goosebumps erupted on his forearms. This particular story was riveting. He was in awe. He was thrilled. To think that this person in question was not a baptized member of the church at the time—he was inspired.

According to the story, the donor’s only association with Adventism was through an encounter with a George Vandeman (founder of It is Written) evangelistic series he attended in his early life. And yet he had no
reservation in giving millions to help in the construction of a new phase of the conference headquarters. The report says he gave over and over again, willingly, not caring to be mentioned. And he refrained from living a lavish
lifestyle. In fact, it is said, he would often say, “It’s not my money, it belongs to God.”

God is still inviting willing persons who are able to contribute to His cause. As He instructed Israel, He’s calling us to, “Give generously…without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you, in everything you put your hand to” (Deuteronomy 15:10, NIV).

Today, as we return our tithes and offerings, and give to our conference’s needs, may the promises of God be ours.

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Young Adult Mission Trip in Peru!

Maranatha Volunteers International invites young adults, ages 18-28, to join Catalyst, a service experience for their age group. Build a church for the Calapuja Adventist Church, operate medical clinics, and lead VBS programs. Learn more at Maranatha.org/volunteer or call 916-774-7700

ZOOM IN! Summer Camp 2026

 ZOOM IN! to God’s Amazing World at The Crayon Box Summer Camp, running June 1–August 20, 2026. Children entering Kindergarten through age 12 will enjoy a summer filled with nature, science, creativity, teamwork, and play as they explore how God’s hand is at work all around them. Each themed week encourages campers to notice the small wonders, big ideas, and amazing details of God’s creation. Located on the beautiful campus of Andrews University, The Crayon Box offers a safe, joyful, faith-centered place for children to spend their summer vacation with on-campus adventures, campus field trips, and visits from zoo and wildlife educators. Enrollment is open now at andrews.edu/services/crayonbox/summercamp. Space is limited. Forms are due May 18, 2026.