happiness

Last night I got a chance to give a short talk at church. Here's what I talked about:

Why are we so often unhappy? Generally it's one of three things:

1. Possessions -- We don't have enough things, the things that we have aren't good enough and the good things that we have frequently break and decay.
   
2. Relationships -- We don't have enough friends or loved ones, our friends hurt us or let us down and the people that we can depend on eventually move away or die.
   
3. Work -- We work to much, we work too hard and we're never paid enough to compensate for all the grief we have to endure.
   

We can't solve these problems, so how can we be happy in this life? The author of Ecclesiastes tells us how:

Go, eat your bread in joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

What's the secret? It seems to contradict what we know to be true. Our possessions, our relationships and our labor seem to be the primary sources of unhappiness, but we are told to enjoy all of these things. How is it possible to derive joy from imperfect possessions, imperfect people and imperfect jobs? It's possible if "God has already approved what you do". When we have the right relationship with God we can view all of these things from a proper perspective. All are blessings from God. Perfect? No, but they are blessings and if we have the right relationship with God, the right perspective, we find joy in them.

Paul makes a similar point:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-10

Does God promise perfect lives that are free of frustrations and disappointments? No. But we can pray for what we need and we can pray when we're hurting. When we concentrate on serving God and when we recognize that He has blessed us with our possessions, our relationships and our work, we can be happy. We can be thankful for what we have, we can see the good in what God has given us and we can have peace because of our relationship with Him.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Does Christ eliminate our burdens and make our lives perfectly easy? No. But He helps with our burdens and the cost of serving Him is so much less than the cost in grief of trying to find joy solely in the things of this world. Christ is the ultimate source of rest and peace.

So, how can we find happiness?

• Serve God.
• Recognize the good in what He has blessed us with.
• Trust Him to help bear our burdens.
• Recognize that the ultimate blessing is the life that He has reserved for us.