Pursuing Happiness

Are you pursuing happiness? What if the road you’re on doesn’t end there?

“Now hold it right there for just a minute. I’m an American. Happiness is my right!”

Is it? The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Pursuing happiness and achieving happiness isn’t the same thing. As someone once wryly observed, “Happiness is in the pursuit thereof.”

So is happiness a destination or just the journey? Maybe both.

In the 1960’s a popular song declared, “Happiness is different things to different people.” And as they say, “Truer words were never spoken.”

What is happiness to you? How would you define it?

American frontier hero Daniel Boone famously said, “All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse and a good wife.” (I wonder how his wife felt about that!)

Fascinating new research reveals that certain choices and behaviors determine our happiness.

In a July 2008 Reader’s Digest article, “Why We’re Happy,” Arthur C. Brooks admits he “had always thought that marching to the beat of my own drummer and making up my own values as I went along were the right things to do, and that traditional values…were for suckers.”

It turns out he was in for a surprise. Brooks’ research found that the number one predictor of happiness was a person’s faith. He writes, “In general, religious Americans (those who attend a place of worship almost every week or more) are happier than those who rarely or never attend.”

Brooks also discovered that secularists were nearly twice as likely as religious people to say, “I’m a failure.”

Other happiness predictors were a strong work ethic, a good marriage, giving back through charity and living in a free society. But, while economic, religious and political freedom brings happiness, a lack of restrictions on moral behavior, did not. Loose living brought unhappiness.

Brooks adds, “People who feel they have unlimited moral choices in their lives when it comes to matters of sex or drugs, for example, tend to be unhappier.”

Did you catch that? People are happier living within the limits of Biblical morality than when they have unlimited moral choices! Why do so few see that? Because of a false view of God.

Many people view God as a stern grandfatherly type. They see him as looking down from the windows of Heaven--and when he sees someone having a good time, he says, “Now cut that out!” They think God is anti-happiness.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Bible gives us a picture of a holy God who loves us more than we know. He made us to experience joy, peace and fulfillment through a personal relationship with him. And he has gone out of his way to reveal himself to us through nature and through the Bible.

If that’s not your picture of God then I invite you to set aside your ideas about him and pick up a Bible again. Get a reliable modern translation like the New International Version.

Then turn to the New Testament and read the Gospel of John. Or read the story of the Lost Son in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15. Let Jesus introduce you to the God who loves you.

Only the Bible can put you on the path that leads to a joyful life now and lasts forever.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Routine Panic

Is your life hectic? Welcome to the 21st Century.

Modern Americans routinely talk about “Multi-tasking” at work and in their personal lives. If you’re a leader and want to just keep up in the business world, one expert says you must become a “Frantic Learner.”

With corporate “downsizing,” two-career marriages and children who have more dates in their calendar than a CEO—the modern family lives on the edge of insanity. Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family describes family life today as “Routine Panic.”

If being busier means life is better, Americans should be the happiest people on earth! But such is not the case. We’re working harder to buy more things but have less time to enjoy them. Surveys show that instead of satisfaction with life, Americans are headed into depression.

Med Yones, President of the International Institute of Management recently wrote a White Paper titled “The American Pursuit of Unhappiness.” In it he reports that depression rates in the United States actually rose during a recent 10-year period. Major depression rose from 3.33 percent of adults to 7.06 percent. In other words, it more than doubled! There are no available studies for 2006, but it seems to be getting worse. Doctors are prescribing antidepressants to adolescents, children and even toddlers.

Perhaps we are headed toward what author Elizabeth Wurtzel called a “Prozac Nation.” Americans seem to think that even normal problems can be solved with pills. As the Rolling Stones sang, we go “running for the shelter of a ‘mother’s little helper.’” Peace in a pill.

Well, hold it right there for just a minute. Is there another way to peace and happiness? The Bible says there is.

The Psalmist, David, writes, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Jesus called his followers to not be troubled or anxious about life. He said that God is in control, loves us and cares for us. Beyond just existing, those who follow Jesus Christ can have an “Abundant Life.” He said that those who serve God would be blessed.

Real life seems to bear this out. A survey by the Barna Group showed that 99 percent of Evangelical Christians report being happier and more satisfied than other Americans.

Happiness and satisfaction? Give me some of that!

So what is a “Christian?” A sincere lady once told me what she thought: “I believe in God, I go to church and I pray; I’m a Christian.” Is that a Christian? Well, not exactly.

Jesus said that at the Judgment, many will call him, “Lord” and claim to have served him. But he will tell them, “I never knew you. Away from me!” In fact he said that genuine believers and some false professors of faith would appear identical to the casual observer.

The key to genuine Christianity is to stop comparing ourselves to others and personally obey God’s Word. If you do you will find that God doesn’t play mind games. He says that “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Not “might be” but “will be saved.” Eternal salvation is free to all who come to God through Christ. A Christian is someone who personally trusts in Christ.

Follow Jesus. Read the Bible. Stay close to God and obey him. Then, instead of “routine panic,” the Bible says you can enjoy an amazing peace and the blessing of God.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!