There isn’t much Christian teaching on being happy. Are we Christians too busy to
realize that our Lord’s presence is a “fullness of joy,” and that his right
hand holds “pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11)? Do we even believe that God WANTS us to be happy?
Wise theologians through the centuries have taught that HAPPINESS COMES FROM KNOWING GOD. So many things in our society distract us from a relationship with the Master, but do we realize that being truly happy requires a personal relationship with God? So if you long to be happy, seek God.
The old saying that “money can’t buy happiness” is
incomplete. Studies show that a
basic level of happiness depends on our basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing
are required to be happy. It’s
impossible to be happy if you haven’t eaten today or slept in a bed this week.
But once one gets a little above the poverty level, there’s
an opposite financial danger -buying the myth of materialism, believing that THINGS
can make us happier. Studies
show there’s no correlation between happiness and income level. Think of all the well-to-do folks you
know, who aren’t any happier than Joe Lunch-bucket. That new gadget or toy you’re longing for - its happiness
won’t last much longer than the next thunderstorm. Sometimes, our gadgets or toys even give us headaches or
cause us grief.
One more thing about money and happiness: If you want to get happy, give
something away. Jesus said, “It’s
more blessed to GIVE than to receive.”
In 2006, I went through a tough depression. We decided to give our tithe to a family who was in
financial trouble. I wrote a short
card with each check I sent, which gave me a wonderful feeling, knowing that we
were helping friends. Maybe you
have something that an acquaintance could use; if you share it, you’ll be BLESSED, according to the One who gave his life as a ransom for many. Blessed means HAPPY!
I believe that God blesses us with excess in order for us to pass that blessing on. In order for us to continue to keep receiving those blessings, we must pass them on. When you do that, the blessings just keep on getting bigger and better.
ReplyDeleteBut, that doesn't mean giving everyone a hand out, most times what they really need is a hand up.
Tammy, in my example of our giving our tithe to a struggling family, I didn't consider that a handout - partly b/c both spouses were working full-time, he was trying to start a new business & working 6 long days/wk, & partly b/c they never once asked for our help. In fact, the husband would not let his wife apply for food stamps or welfare. We gave b/c we simply saw that they had a need. & they were living VERY modestly.
ReplyDeleteGiving of our extra is fine & Biblical. However, if we give ONLY our extra, in my experience, we miss a DEEPER JOY & HAPPINESS that comes from significant giving, & studies back this up. I realize that this goes against our natural tendency to grasp & hold on to what we have, but one will not experience the REAL HAPPINESS OF GIVING until one let's go & gives in significant ways. The movie "Pass It Forward" illustrated that in the middle-school boy who decided that his giving had to be "big enough to change someone's life." Remember Jesus' words,"It's more blessed to give than to receive."