By: Brenda K. Hendricks
What makes you happy? A new car, the thought of retirement?
Holding the hand of your first child as she takes her first step? Perhaps the memory of an exotic vacation or a fast ride?
Our constitution guarantees us the right to pursue happiness. To some, that means spending money, collecting antiques, and searching for new experiences. It all sounds good. But happiness depends on circumstances.
After pursuing all forms of happiness , King Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest man that ever lived on the face of the earth, wrote "all is vanity and vexation of spirit" (see Ecclesiastes). Pleasure promises more than it can produce. Pleasure satisfies only while you do it. Pleasure results in boredom or frustration. Pleasure seeking becomes a selfish endeavor that destroys true joy. If you live for pleasure, joy decreases unless you increase your pleasure. Alas, alcoholics, drug addicts, and nymphomaniacs are born. Pleasure appeals and satisfies one aspect of life ignoring the total human needs.
Our own experiences confirm his analysis. New cars rust, with retirement comes old age and declining health, memories fade, and children grow up to move far from home. We seek other means of happiness and like Solomon, find more disappointment.
In these trying times of economic collapse, our pursuit of happiness becomes more difficult as we struggle just to provide the necessities of life for our families. Is there no happiness remaining in our nation . . . in our lives? Not if our only means of contentment falls within the limits of our purse. Perhaps happiness depends on our circumstances, but in contrast to earthly pleasures, God offers joy.
Deeper and stronger than happiness, joy is based on the blessed assurance that God loves us and is at work in our lives. He will be there no matter what! While happiness relies on happenstance, joy depends on Christ.
As we share Jesus' love with others, more joy abounds within us and within them. The apostle Paul understood the benefits of partnering with other believers to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Before becoming a believer, Paul enjoyed abundant wealth as well as a powerful political position. He surrendered it all to follow our LORD. He face excruciating beatings, extreme poverty, and prison, yet, his letters are saturated with joy. His secret? Paul was convinced that joy is grounded in a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.