“IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?”
“Is everybody happy? The short answer is no, according to a recent UMR survey taken over the past couple of years on the state of happiness in New Zealand.” ( That is the beginning of the commentary “Finding our happy place” in the LISTENER March 3 2012 )
Why the negative answer?
Because we are not to seek for happiness, we are to hunger after righteousness.
WE ARE NOT TO SEEK FOR HAPPINESS.
Why are we not to seek for happiness?
Is not the whole world seeking for happiness? Yes, the whole world is seeking for happiness ……. and does not find happiness. Happiness always escapes discovery.
WE ARE TO HUNGER AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Why are we to hunger after righteousness?
The BIBLE says in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperoues [that is, in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!” [Isaiah 55:1,2] (THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE)
Martyn Lloyd-Jones says this:
“According to the Scriptures happiness is never something that should be sought directly; it is always something that results from seeking something else.”
When I read the quote by Erma Bombeck
“My second favourite household chore is ironing. My first is hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint,”
this anonymous quote came to my mind:
“Life is full of little duties. Worrying about them, grumbling about them, dwelling upon them makes the duties shackles which bind us, but just doing the duties makes them wings.”
“But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your LIFE and your WAYS.” – Daniel 5:23
“Es liegt im STILLESEIN eine wunderbare Macht der Klaerung, der Reinigung, der Sammlung auf das Wesentliche.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
