By David Sproule
The July 2008 issue of Reader’s Digest had an interesting article on pages 162-169 entitled, “Why We’re Happy.” Before pointing out his five keys to happiness, the author noted that happiness is not based upon the acquisition of things or being accepted by others or any other factors that “we typically hear about. Things like winning the lottery, getting liposuction, and earning a master’s degree don’t make people happy over the long haul. Rather, the key to happiness, and the difference between happy and unhappy Americans, is a life that reflects values…” You may be thinking the same thing I was thinking when I read this—“That’s exactly what God said!” Notice further what this researcher of happiness concluded when he summarized five “happiness predictors,” as he calls them. You’ll find he is not revealing anything new.
“Happiness Predictor #1: Faith.” Happiness is the result of a strong faith, which is what Jesus taught. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6). “Blessed” includes the idea of being happy. One is happy when he hungers for God’s Word and builds his faith from it and upon it (Rom. 10:17).
“Happiness Predictor #2: Work.” Happiness is the result of being a worker, which is what the Bible teaches. God enjoins us to find a work and do it with our might (Ecc. 9:10; 2 Thess. 3:10-12), and He promises that if we do His work, we will “be blessed” in what we do (James 1:25).
“Happiness Predictor #3: Marriage & Family.” Happiness is the result of a strong family, which is what the Bible teaches. God says the wife is a man’s “helpmeet” and that “happy is the man” who has children from the Lord (Psa. 127). Happiness comes from this vestibule of heaven.
“Happiness Predictor #4: Charity.” Happiness is the result of expressing true love, which is what Jesus taught. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), which means giving of ourselves to others brings true happiness (Matt. 5:3).
“Happiness Predictor #5: Freedom.” Happiness is the result of being free, which is what the Bible teaches. When man has the greatest freedom from the greatest oppressor and is no longer in bondage to sin, God says, “Blessed is that man” (Psa. 32:1-2; Rom. 4:6-8; 6:7-23).
There are no new findings about true happiness that God has not already revealed to us. Are you happy?