SEARCHLIGHT
Where do you find true happiness?
SCRIPTURE
Paul and Timothy, both of us committed servants of Christ Jesus, write this letter to all the followers of Jesus in Philippi, pastors and ministers included. We greet you with the grace and peace that comes from God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:1,2 The Message
SPOTLIGHT
The middle-aged businessman was having an affair with a businesswoman. He was married to a lovely, faithful wife and had a beautiful family. In trying to appease his conscience and justify his actions, his thoughts became twisted and torn. Finally, he left his wife and got his own apartment. She would have been willing to forgive and welcome him back, but he told her that he had to leave, in order to figure things out. Of course it sent the entire family into a tailspin. As time went on, the only thing he could tell his wife was that “God wants me to be happy". Is one person’s gain of happiness supposed to cost another person the loss of all happiness?
That same man sent a birthday card to his youngest daughter and wrote the following message: “Be yourself, be happy!”. Does "being yourself” guarantee being happy?
From age to age, there is no consistent standard or definition of true happiness. People have looked to self-help books and stimulants such as pills, injections, and liquids. Money spenders have looked to cars, clothing, furniture, homes, travel, concerts, and gambling to find momentary happiness. Ever since Ponce de Leon sought the fountain of youth, people have believed that being young will provide happiness. Many have believed that by developing their mind, self-sufficiency would provide happiness. Aristotle led the way. Still others have sought happiness through adventure or humor. Admiral Byrd explored the Antarctic but concluded it did not meet his need for what he wanted. Mark Twain was a professional humorist but in private, he was broken and sorrowful. He wrote, “…I always envy the dead.”
What is the truth about happiness?
#1 Many people are wearing a mask of happiness, but behind it is anxiety, guilt, loneliness, hurt, bitterness, and so much more.
#2 Happiness is one of the most misunderstood subjects among human beings.
#3 Not all the voices who claim to have an understanding of happiness have the right answer.
#4 All people have a desire to be happy.
#5 Happiness is the rarest and most prized possession a person can hold.
#6 Unhappy people rarely blame themselves for their condition.
In today’s Scripture focus, we meet one of the happiest men ever to live. His name was Paul the Apostle. He wrote a letter to his friends who lived in Philippi in order to help them to DISCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT HAPPINESS. Throughout the book of Philippians, 6 times Paul uses the word “joy” and 8 times he uses the word “rejoice”.
Look at today’s Bible verses where he reveals that he had learned the secret to being happy by being a “committed servant of Christ Jesus”. Most people would argue that happiness would be found in being a king, not a servant, or being a master but not a slave. In Philippians, Paul illustrates that happiness is not in a person’s position.
The struggle for happiness only ends when you become a committed believer. Position, prominence, power, or prestige are not the solutions. Paul had once experienced all of those but was not enjoying life. Neither will you find the truth about happiness in titles, awards and authority.
The fullest experience of happiness comes from the blessings of grace and peace which only God can give you. In the opening verses of this letter, Paul quickly introduced what he wanted his Philippian friends to know. The continual favor and blessing you need to be happy in this life, and the life to come, only comes from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, the Son.
Grace and peace are free gifts from God. They are an expression of the unmerited love of God to sinful man. God’s grace meets every need a person will ever have. Peace is more than the absence of conflict in a person’s life but instead describes his/her complete well-being.
When a person experiences both grace and peace, he/she has discovered what happiness truly is. The sense of completeness and the inner calm to do life, are gifts you can only receive from God, through His Son. God sent His Son into this world to make sure you would be able to receive this wonderful blessing of true happiness.
Please note. Your source of true happiness only comes from God, the Father through Jesus Christ. Grace and peace, which are the keys to true happiness, are only discovered when you commit yourself to making Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord. When you become fully convinced that you cannot live without Jesus being at the center of your life, then you DISCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT HAPPINESS.
SOMETHING TO DO
Read the book of Philippians and underling all the verses that mention “joy” and “rejoice”.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, I desire to know the truth about happiness. I commit myself to making You the center of my life. Fill me with Your grace and peace as You lead me. AMEN