SEEKING AND FINDING TRUE HAPPINESS
Jesus said, come unto me all you who labor seeking happiness, and I will give you rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29). Many people have worked hard to find true happiness in things of the world and have ended up disappointed. The Lord’s prophet Isaiah asks, why spend your money and labor for things that do not satisfy the soul (Isaiah 55:2)? The Bible says, all that is in the world is the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and the pride of life, which do not come from God (1 John 2:16). However, the Bible psalmist David says, happy are the people whose God is the Lord (Psalm 114:15).
THINGS OF THE WORLD ARE PROVEN NOT GIVE TRUE HAPPY
Recently, there have been a number of people having fame, fortune and things of the world who committed suicide or died from drugs, alcohol and depression. You might be aware of some of them. However, if they had turned the Bible, they might have learned from a person who had it all and found out that only the Lord gives true and lasting happiness of the soul.
KING SOLOMON said he had great riches, superior knowledge, great honor and every pleasure of the world; but discovered things of the world, in the long run, do not lead to true happiness—satisfaction of the soul. He tells us that these things are all “meaningless, a chasing after the wind” – “vanity and vexation of spirits” (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11). He concluded: “blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord (Proverbs 16:20).
TRUE HAPPINESS IN THE LORD HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED EVEN WHILE SUFFERING
STEPHEN, EARLY CHURCH DEACON, was martyred as he fearlessly proclaimed the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Stephen was stoned and dying, when he looked up into heaven and saw Jesus, and called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:54-59).
THE APOSTLE PAUL is an example of one who was poor, persecuted and suffered a lot in life (Corinthians 11:16-33). But he said, “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. The famous nonviolent civil right leader was harassed, jailed and martyred. During his suffering for justice, he said: “I just want to do God’s will.”
WE WERE MADE TO BE TRULY HAPPY ONLY IN JESUS CHRIST
We were made by and for the Lord Jesus Christ. We were not made to be truly happy in any other way than in Jesus— no more than a square peg was made to fit in a round hole. (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16).
The soul cannot be fully satisfied with things of the world. At some point in your search for happiness, your soul will make you aware that it is not satisfied by the things of the world. Feeding the soul with things of the world is like trying to satisfy an addiction. A worldly addiction craves for more and more, but is never completely satisfied. The soul can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ.
JESUS PROMISES: My peace I give to you not as the world gives (John 14:27). (John 6:3). Come unto me all you who labor and I will give you rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29). I have come that you might have life more abundantly (John 10:10). Whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst again (John 4:4). And whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, streams of living water shall flow from within him–By this Jesus meant the Holy Spirit that believers would receive from the Lord (John 7:38-39).
THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS BELIEVERS: When we seek the Lord with all our heart, we find true soul’s happiness (Jeremiah 29:13). The Holy Spirit, which the Lord gives to us as earnest seekers, makes us living temples for God to dwell in (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Spirit conforms us, in whom he dwells, into the image of the Lord. Our primary desire grows increasingly to please God as the Lord did. (Romans 8:29; John 8:29). Many of our desires for earthly things progressively diminishes, as we deny self and increasing desire to please God (Luke 9:23). Even when denying ourselves and carrying our cross to follow the Lord, we can have happiness of the soul now and forever in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
