Augustine said that our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God (we can even get desperate). Pascal said that there's a God-shaped vacuum that only God can fill. The chief symptom of the times is emptiness and boredom with life--not feeling fulfilled or what they would call "happy." We are not made for boredom or idleness, but to serve God in productive living--work manifests the image of God in us. Nature abhors a vacuum and it is unnatural for us to be bored, as only humans can be, because we are in the image of God, meant to glorify Him and have a relationship with Him.
God doesn't exist for our happiness, but we exist for His glory and only when we seek God with our whole heart can we find happiness. If you are desperate to find it, it will remain elusive. Happiness is akin to reaching for each passing straw, and as you grasp it, it disappears--it is a nebulous thing indeed. Americans have the "right to the pursuit of happiness," but God gives us no right to happiness.
Happiness depends upon "happenings," and, even if you are in jail, you are not happy about the circumstances--but can still rejoice in the Lord, and also when you are mourning the loss of a loved one are you not happy per se. But the Word says "... [For] the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10, ESV). We can have "inner joy" despite our circumstances and rejoice always in the Lord (cf. Phil. 4:4) as Paul did from prison in his treatise on joy in the book of Philippians. Joy comes from within and needs no outward stimuli.
Temporal and spiritual bliss is only found in Jesus. It is said that the secret to joy is to think of Jesus first, others second, and yourself last! Dr. Albert Schweitzer (Nobel Prize winner) said that the happiest people are those who've learned to serve. If you are busy serving you will not think of yourself. A non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms and you should be so busy serving others, you don't have time to worry about yourself.
We are bound to have emotional ups and downs, but we are not to ever change our attitude towards a life of contentment. God doesn't sanction or countenance excessive whining or complaining. God wants us to be satisfied with what we have and not to covet nor be greedy for ill-gotten gain. The "love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." If we love money, we will miss out on the real pleasures of life that money can't buy.
God doesn't exist for our happiness, but we exist for His glory and only when we seek God with our whole heart can we find happiness. If you are desperate to find it, it will remain elusive. Happiness is akin to reaching for each passing straw, and as you grasp it, it disappears--it is a nebulous thing indeed. Americans have the "right to the pursuit of happiness," but God gives us no right to happiness.
Happiness depends upon "happenings," and, even if you are in jail, you are not happy about the circumstances--but can still rejoice in the Lord, and also when you are mourning the loss of a loved one are you not happy per se. But the Word says "... [For] the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10, ESV). We can have "inner joy" despite our circumstances and rejoice always in the Lord (cf. Phil. 4:4) as Paul did from prison in his treatise on joy in the book of Philippians. Joy comes from within and needs no outward stimuli.
Temporal and spiritual bliss is only found in Jesus. It is said that the secret to joy is to think of Jesus first, others second, and yourself last! Dr. Albert Schweitzer (Nobel Prize winner) said that the happiest people are those who've learned to serve. If you are busy serving you will not think of yourself. A non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms and you should be so busy serving others, you don't have time to worry about yourself.
We are bound to have emotional ups and downs, but we are not to ever change our attitude towards a life of contentment. God doesn't sanction or countenance excessive whining or complaining. God wants us to be satisfied with what we have and not to covet nor be greedy for ill-gotten gain. The "love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." If we love money, we will miss out on the real pleasures of life that money can't buy.
Instead of seeking happiness as your goal, and God's plan is not necessarily your happiness--so don't tell Him that all you want is to be happy--God wants you to do His will! God's purpose is to bring glory to Himself through you and for your life to have an impact for His kingdom. We need fulfillment and meaning in life, not necessarily happiness. The purpose for a living is a basic need of man and when you have a reason why you have to endure something, such as a trial or tribulation, you can endure it because you know God is with you: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you ..." (cf. Isa. 43:2, ESV).
Being happy or blessed as the Beatitudes calls it is a byproduct of living in God's will and obedience. Christ lists eight principles to live by if we want true "blessedness." Remember: happiness depends upon happenings! Happiness that's more than skin deep and lasts is kingdom happiness that results from being in the image of Christ: For example, being meek, humble, peacemakers, pure in heart, merciful, etc. The more Christlike we become the more fulfilled we are and enjoy a more meaningful life.
Being happy or blessed as the Beatitudes calls it is a byproduct of living in God's will and obedience. Christ lists eight principles to live by if we want true "blessedness." Remember: happiness depends upon happenings! Happiness that's more than skin deep and lasts is kingdom happiness that results from being in the image of Christ: For example, being meek, humble, peacemakers, pure in heart, merciful, etc. The more Christlike we become the more fulfilled we are and enjoy a more meaningful life.
Paul most likely suffered more than any other apostle (cf. 2 Cor. 11) and rejoiced in them. In Philippians, he said he had learned the secret of contentment in all situations--in plenty and in need. We should likewise aim to be content (cf. Philippians 4:13) with whatever situation we find ourselves, and not think that God is holding out on us. We should emulate Paul's attitude; we have the choice to choose our attitude no matter the circumstance.
If you begin a frantic search for happiness, it will be elusive or a will-o-the-wisp and you will never attain your goal. Happiness must be bestowed on you as a gift, not something you go out and purchase or find desperately. Some people are so deluded into thinking that money buys happiness, and when they get it they just want more money and a lid never gets put on the greed. If you love money, you will never have enough--that's why you ask a millionaire how much money he needs, and he will tell you, "Just a little more!" Don't fall into the temptation to desire to get rich.
God is looking for smiling faces (some people's face just say they are happy, and others need to tell their face that they're happy!) and people who are happy campers. People content with God's will for their life (which is not accepting the status quo with complacency) are a good advertisement for the Lord, while malcontents and grumpy believers are darkness and do not show the light of the gospel that we should be promoting as lights in a dark world. Soli Deo Gloria!
If you begin a frantic search for happiness, it will be elusive or a will-o-the-wisp and you will never attain your goal. Happiness must be bestowed on you as a gift, not something you go out and purchase or find desperately. Some people are so deluded into thinking that money buys happiness, and when they get it they just want more money and a lid never gets put on the greed. If you love money, you will never have enough--that's why you ask a millionaire how much money he needs, and he will tell you, "Just a little more!" Don't fall into the temptation to desire to get rich.
God is looking for smiling faces (some people's face just say they are happy, and others need to tell their face that they're happy!) and people who are happy campers. People content with God's will for their life (which is not accepting the status quo with complacency) are a good advertisement for the Lord, while malcontents and grumpy believers are darkness and do not show the light of the gospel that we should be promoting as lights in a dark world. Soli Deo Gloria!