Pursuit of Happiness

"The relentless pursuit of happiness may be doing us more harm than good. "  Wall Street Journal, March 15, 2011

I think it's safe to say most people want to be happy.  I'm defining happiness as the experience of pleasure or positive feelings.  It seems like a no-brainer that we would rather experience happiness than sadness.  However, I think we're going about our pursuit of happiness the wrong way.  I'm sure we've all experienced the anticipation of an upcoming event, say a special meal or tickets to see our favorite team play.  We enjoy the event, but then it's over.  The happiness was temporal.  Back to "real life."  I submit that there is a way to experience lasting joy.  I'll get to that shortly.

According to the Wall Street Journal article entitled "Is Happiness Overrated?" March 15, 2011 some researchers say happiness is far less important to physical health than the type of well-being that comes from engaging in meaningful activity.  The article also goes on to state that "some of the newest evidence suggests that people who focus on living with a sense of purpose as they age are more likely to remain cognitively intact, have better mental health and even live longer than people who focus on achieving feelings of happiness.  In fact, in some cases, too much focus on feeling happy can actually lead to feeling less happy, researchers say."  Pleasures such as a good meal, an entertaining movie, or a sports game are fleeting, short-term and hedonistic.  Hedonism is defined as the self-indulgent pursuit of pleasure as a way of life.  However, "raising children, volunteering or going to medical school may be less pleasurable day to day, but give a sense of fulfillment in the long-run."  To sum up the article in a nutshell Dr. Ed Diener (retired professor at the University of Illinois) says, "quit sitting around worrying about yourself and get focused on your goals."

So it seems that secular research supports what the Bible teaches.  There are numerous biblical passages that highlight the principle of not being self-centered, but rather other-centered.  Philippians 2:3 says that we should do nothing through selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility of mind we should each esteem others higher ourselves.  Ultimately, we need only look at Jesus' example.  He left His heavenly glory, came to earth as a humble man, lived a sinless life and willingly took on our sins in his own body.  I'd say he was thinking of others and not himself!  The Scripture says that Jesus did all this because of the JOY that was before Him (Heb 12:2).

Galatians 5:22-23 states the joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit.  As we abide in Christ we are connected to our source of life and thus bear the Spirit's fruit.  In John chapter 15, Jesus is teaching the disciples about abiding in Him.  In verse 11 Jesus says, "these things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."  When we abide in Jesus we have joy.  So, I guess it's safe to say that when I'm not experiencing joy, I'm not abiding in Christ.  Jesus has provided a way for us to walk in lasting joy.  I can't say I walk in total joy everyday, but I'm thankful God has provided a way for me experience joy no matter what is going on around me.  I really think the Wall Street Journal article is speaking a spiritual truth.  Living for a purpose beyond our own immediate "happiness" provides deeper fulfillment than fleeting pleasures.  When we are flowing in our God-given purpose (Eph 2:10) we can experience the deep-down kind of joy that far surpasses short-term happiness.

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Ho Ho Conscious

I no longer buy sweet treats and bring them home, because I have learned that if they aren’t in the house, I can’t eat them.  But my husband likes treats.  This has led us to develop The Rule:  If my husband brings any sweet treats into the house, I can’t know about them or where they are located.  Recently my husband purchased some Ho Ho’s while he was out.  I was helping put away groceries and unfortunately spotted them in the Wal-Mart bag in the back of the van.  As I finished putting away the groceries, I realized I had not come across the Ho Ho’s.  I asked him where they were, and he gave in and told me his hiding place for them.  So, naturally I had Ho Ho’s on my mind.  The more I told myself I wouldn’t eat a Ho Ho, the more I wanted one!  You might say I was Ho Ho – Conscious.  (In case you don’t know, Ho Ho’s are little, rolled chocolate cakes with cream inside, then dipped in chocolate.)

It’s similar to being conscious of our sin due to the law.  The bible says that the law made us to know sin (Rom 7:7).  Before the law, sin was not being imputed unto us (put to our account) (Rom 5:13).  But when the law came, people were held to a standard.  Of course, the whole purpose of the law was to show us that we can never attain that standard and we need a savior.  (I also believe another purpose of the law was to preserve a virgin for when it was time for Jesus to be conceived, but that’s a different topic altogether!)  However, we (who are in Christ) are no longer relating to God by the law, but by grace (Rom 6:14).  Yet, so many Christians are sin-conscious (like I was Ho Ho conscious).  Hebrews chapter 10 deals with the topic of sin-consciousness.  To summarize, the writer contrasts the Law’s inability to cleanse the conscience from sin with Christ’s once-for-all-time sacrifice, which does cleanse us, conscience included, from sin.  The chapter goes on to state that we can draw near and have our hearts cleansed from an evil conscience, which is sin-consciousness!

Do you often find yourself thinking of your failures and mistakes?  If so, meditate on the truths presented in Hebrews chapter 10.  God has provided a way for you to be free from being sin-conscious.  Instead, God wants you to be conscious of your righteousness in Christ! (2 Cor 5:21)  Yes, God sees you as He sees His son Jesus!  Sin-consciousness more easily leads to sinful actions. (For the record, before the day was done I ate a Ho Ho.)  Righteous-consciousness more easily leads to righteous actions.  The law made sin come alive (Rom 7:9), but we are no longer under the law!  We who are in Christ have been made new creations (2 Cor 5:17) and we don’t need to focus on our failures, but rather our position of righteousness in Christ. 

P.S. Believers are in Christ and no longer relate to God through the law.  However, the law can be used to show those outside of Christ that they will never measure up to the standard and they need a savior.  The law can be used to show them their need for Jesus.

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Righteousness of God in Christ-That's Me!

For those of you who have ever been to church at some point in your life, you've probably heard about salvation by grace.  It's a basic doctrine that evangelical churches adhere to, which basically states that a person is made alive to God (born again) by His grace, through faith (believing Him).  However, in my experience, many times there is an underlying culture of "works" in many of our churches.  Kind of like: "Yes, you're saved by grace.  But you really should make sure you read your bible everday and attend church faithfully in order to be in good standing with God."

Well I'm here to tell you that's simply not true.  First, let's define grace in a biblical context.  Grace comes from the greek work Charis.  It basically means the free, unmerited favor of God toward people who don't deserve it.  Botton line: we'll never be good enough at law-keeping to earn right standing with God.  But Jesus did it for us.  He fulfilled the law and ushered in grace and truth.  So for anyone who is in Christ, God relates to you on the basis of Christ's righteousness.  Period.  Regardless of whether or not you've read your bible or attended church faithfully.  Now don't think for a minute I'm suggesting you let those activities go by the wayside.  Those things help us grow in our faith.  But we do those things as a response to what Christ has already done in us.  He's made us new creations (2 Cor 5:17). 

Take note of this truth:  2 Cor 5:21 "For He (God) has made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Christ)."  The phrase "in Christ" is a terminology that is used over 300 times in the New Testament, always referring to a vital union relationship with God.  So, if you're in vital relationship with God through Christ, you are as righteous as Christ and that's how God sees you.  Believe it!  The more we let this truth (that we're already righteous because we're in Christ) take root in us, the more effortlessly we'll bear fruit.  Have you ever seen or heard an apple tree struggling, groaning or striving to bear fruit.  No, of course not!  Why then do we run the treadmill of performance (or works, whatever you want to call it), trying to be good, fruitful Christians?  Or maybe you've gotten too tired to stay on the treadmill.  Maybe you've crashed and burned and said, "Forget it, this Christianity thing is just too hard, and no fun."   In either case you're still relating to God based on law-keeping.  My hope is that you will take time to think about the fact that when you're in Christ, GOD IS PLEASED WITH YOU!  Take a deep breath and just accept it.  Once you're rooted in that truth, you'll be amazed at how much you want to read your bible and go to church (and do all the other stuff, too!)

I'm happy to clarify anything questions you may have, so please ask them!  For those of you who are not yet in Christ, I especially want to hear from you.  God has an amazing life planned for you!  Contact me!!!

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