"...[F]or the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh. 8:10, ESV).
"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:4, ESV).
NB: Hedonism is the maximization of pleasure but more specifically the optimization of it, though it is physical, sensual, spiritual, or even intellectual.
"If a man is not made for God, why is he happy only in God? If man is made for God, why is he opposed to God?"--Blaise Pascal, French scientist, mathematician, philosopher
"People mix up faith and feelings, for example, some people equate faith with a perpetual religious high. When that high wears off, as it inevitably does, they start to doubt whether they have any faith at all."--Lynn Anderson, DMn
Happiness depends upon happenings and is volatile like a seesaw or as divergent as a weathervane in a whirlwind. It's not a given, but a variable in the equation of life! No one can say he's always happy and never sad or sorrowful. We don't walk around on so-called Cloud Nine as believers or exhibit the Pollyanna Christianity of pretending all is wonderful and only seeing the bright side, nor even exist on the memory of some divine existential experience or encounter forever. The point of Christianity is to be ever joyful and not to have it ever taken away from us no matter the circumstances.
"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:4, ESV).
NB: Hedonism is the maximization of pleasure but more specifically the optimization of it, though it is physical, sensual, spiritual, or even intellectual.
"If a man is not made for God, why is he happy only in God? If man is made for God, why is he opposed to God?"--Blaise Pascal, French scientist, mathematician, philosopher
"People mix up faith and feelings, for example, some people equate faith with a perpetual religious high. When that high wears off, as it inevitably does, they start to doubt whether they have any faith at all."--Lynn Anderson, DMn
Happiness depends upon happenings and is volatile like a seesaw or as divergent as a weathervane in a whirlwind. It's not a given, but a variable in the equation of life! No one can say he's always happy and never sad or sorrowful. We don't walk around on so-called Cloud Nine as believers or exhibit the Pollyanna Christianity of pretending all is wonderful and only seeing the bright side, nor even exist on the memory of some divine existential experience or encounter forever. The point of Christianity is to be ever joyful and not to have it ever taken away from us no matter the circumstances.
Joy is an inner event that comes from God and can even be experienced in prison-like Paul and Silas did. Case in point: let's say you delight in going to the beach to get a tan; if this makes you happy, what will you pursue when you reach your senior years or will you fail to find the source of true happiness?
Christian hedonism is the enjoyment of God and taking one's pleasure in Him, not the hedonistic philosophy of pleasure-seeking, like eating, drinking, and making merry or mirth till death. Some say the goal of their lives is to be happy; God wants you to glorify Him no matter your feelings. We are meant to have fulfilling lives (i.e., intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and even sensual fulfillment) all with purpose and meaning. Paul said that he had learned to be content, not happy (cf. Phil. 4:13)!
Christian hedonism is the enjoyment of God and taking one's pleasure in Him, not the hedonistic philosophy of pleasure-seeking, like eating, drinking, and making merry or mirth till death. Some say the goal of their lives is to be happy; God wants you to glorify Him no matter your feelings. We are meant to have fulfilling lives (i.e., intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and even sensual fulfillment) all with purpose and meaning. Paul said that he had learned to be content, not happy (cf. Phil. 4:13)!
There is a difference: are you getting what you want out of life, and I don't mean the American dream or any pie-in-the-sky scheme or wish (e.g., chasing for pots of gold at the end of mythical rainbows). Have you found your calling from God, for He exhorts us to make our calling and election sure in 2 Pet. 1:10. Too often we aim at nothing and end up nowhere! We must expect great things from God, as William Carey said in a sermon, as we attempt great things for God!
We all want to leave a legacy and make an impact with our lives--to make a statement--and when we die we want to have had more than a good time--this is shallow. We all need to feel important and that we make a difference, knowing why we're here and who we are in the Lord. Most Christians don't even know what their spiritual gift is nor know the inner joy and fulfillment of being used by God in doing His work, much less find happiness, meaning, fulfillment, purpose, and joy in life.
We all want to leave a legacy and make an impact with our lives--to make a statement--and when we die we want to have had more than a good time--this is shallow. We all need to feel important and that we make a difference, knowing why we're here and who we are in the Lord. Most Christians don't even know what their spiritual gift is nor know the inner joy and fulfillment of being used by God in doing His work, much less find happiness, meaning, fulfillment, purpose, and joy in life.
We all have to choose our attitude and no one can take that away, it's our choice to be on the side of righteousness, and to stand up for justice, even social justice. Yes, girls just want to have fun, but that is immaturity and we must grow up to see that there is meaning even in our suffering; this makes our faith so unique. Yes, you could say that you would be happy if you made an impact and lasting impression on the world, and this is a higher consciousness than saying you want to go play golf as long as you can because that's your life.
Many men put too much stock in their jobs or careers and define themselves from them, and upon retirement find themselves bored and unfulfilled, because they've never achieved real purpose in living, though they may have accomplished goals--these are not equal incentives. Hannah Whitall-Smith, the commonsensical Quaker, writes in The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life that we can find joy and thrill in everyday experience with Jesus. Indeed, also in the writings of Bro. Lawrence, notably The Practice of the Presence of God, we see the inner joy in constant communion or companionship with God no matter the task--even washing dishes. Note that the scriptural formula for happiness is given in the Beatitudes and this really delineates inner joy found only in God, not the happiness the world experiences or knows.
God does call us to be happy campers but this doesn't mean we make having fun or seeking happiness our goal--if we put God's kingdom first and seek the Lord, we will be rewarded with true happiness. We are to seek God, not happiness, which is the byproduct of a good relationship and fellowship with Him through faith in Jesus. One of the secrets to happiness is to be busy making others happy, and loving and focusing on them, even loving their lives more than yours in sacrificial love to the point of laying down your life for them--this is the real pro-life stance.
In general, kids have the job of playing and having fun, but when they grow up they must set goals, find purpose in life, with and deeper meaning and orientation as an incentive to live; to joy and delight in the Lord's will is the highest form of happiness (cf. Psalm 40:8). We ought to be like Paul, who learned the secret of being content in every situation or circumstance (cf. Phil. 4:11-12) Soli Deo Gloria!
Many men put too much stock in their jobs or careers and define themselves from them, and upon retirement find themselves bored and unfulfilled, because they've never achieved real purpose in living, though they may have accomplished goals--these are not equal incentives. Hannah Whitall-Smith, the commonsensical Quaker, writes in The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life that we can find joy and thrill in everyday experience with Jesus. Indeed, also in the writings of Bro. Lawrence, notably The Practice of the Presence of God, we see the inner joy in constant communion or companionship with God no matter the task--even washing dishes. Note that the scriptural formula for happiness is given in the Beatitudes and this really delineates inner joy found only in God, not the happiness the world experiences or knows.
God does call us to be happy campers but this doesn't mean we make having fun or seeking happiness our goal--if we put God's kingdom first and seek the Lord, we will be rewarded with true happiness. We are to seek God, not happiness, which is the byproduct of a good relationship and fellowship with Him through faith in Jesus. One of the secrets to happiness is to be busy making others happy, and loving and focusing on them, even loving their lives more than yours in sacrificial love to the point of laying down your life for them--this is the real pro-life stance.
In general, kids have the job of playing and having fun, but when they grow up they must set goals, find purpose in life, with and deeper meaning and orientation as an incentive to live; to joy and delight in the Lord's will is the highest form of happiness (cf. Psalm 40:8). We ought to be like Paul, who learned the secret of being content in every situation or circumstance (cf. Phil. 4:11-12) Soli Deo Gloria!
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