The Pursuit of Happiness by: Mark Ray The Declaration of Independence states that all men have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This phrase, likely a derivative of John Locke’s philosophy of the protection of life, liberty and estate, reminds each of us as Americans of the rights and responsibilities we have today. The problem with happiness is that it is elusive when it’s pursued. In other words happiness is really a byproduct of doing something else. In fact, if we have to temporarily be unhappy in order to ultimately find greater happiness, this is a wise decision. The wisdom of delayed gratification rings true in love, finances and especially religion. God has always been interested in our ultimate personal happiness (John 10:10). Here are some practical suggestions on how each of us can find happiness today: 1. Learn to enjoy life. Happiness is connected to the journey, not the destination. Until we can enjoy the daily experiences of life, we will never enter a state of happiness. 2. Be responsible for your own happiness. If we shift the responsibility of our happiness to someone other than ourselves, we’ll end up disappointed and frustrated. I cannot ultimately be responsible for my spouse’s happiness. She must be responsible for her own happiness. I will do everything I can to contribute to her happiness, but I can’t make her a happy person. This might be the reason why so many relationships fail. People want others to make them happy. That’s immature and unfair. I’m happy because I choose to be that way. I’m happy because I choose to serve God and others. Too much self-indulgence leads one away from true happiness. 3. Associate with happy people. The Bible says, “Bad company corrupts good morals” (I Corinthians 15:33). We become like the people we associate with in life. If you’re feeling miserable, pessimistic, and cynical about life, you might need to seek out people who are optimistic, joyful, and grateful. It is important that we stay around people who teach the right doctrine and have the right attitude about life (John 4:24). God wants you to be happy. The ultimate pursuit is not the fading happiness that this world offers, but the true and eternal joy that we find in a good relationship with Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:27. - Mark Ray; via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City church of Christ, Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation. He may be contacted through the congregations website: calvertchurchofchrist
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 11:21:55 +0000
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