December Article

The Search for True Happiness

by Dee Bowman
c/o 2011 Southside church of Christ, Pasadena, TX

     Men seek after many things - discovery, conquest, attainments of various sorts are the things that make the most demands on our time. But the thing most sought after by people everywhere is happiness. People want to be happy. No matter the territory or tongue, city or state, nationality or political philosophy–the great quest is to be happy. The slave sees it as freedom, the wanderer sees it just over the next rise, the daydreamer sees it as tomorrow, the young see it in age, the aged in youth. Businessmen see it in more business, buyers in affordable products. Happiness is the continual pursuit.

     Did you know that happiness is measured mostly by what happens? It’s so. Fact is, the two words are akin. When life’s situations are trouble-free and pleasurable, we are happy; when they’re not, we’re not happy. When flat tires or dead batteries invade the start of the day, or we had a fuss with somebody - we’re not happy. And the complexion of a day can change instantaneously–sometimes drastically– with the advent of some good or bad piece of news.

     So, you see, happiness depends on externalities for both its existence as well as its continuance.

     We sometimes confuse happiness and blessedness as being the same. In some modern translations of the New Testament the word happy is used to translate what is in the older renditions rendered blessed. But they are not the same. There is a primary difference between the two. In the Bible, “makarios” is the Greek word used to mean blessed. As I understand it, the word is a much stronger and more definitive term than our word happy. It means an exalted state of bliss–such a bliss that arises out of the knowledge of a person’s having God’s approval. Only when I define it this way can I explain the statement of Jesus when He says in the 'Sermon On The Mount', “blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name’s sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad..." (Matthew 5:12). Surely that’s not happiness, do you think?

     Blessedness occurs here based on suffering “for my sake,” an indication that Christ approves of your difficult state of affairs. So, one may be blessed, while in a very unhappy situation or circumstance.

     The state of blessedness also has a practical aspect. As we have seen, it can take place in the most unusual of situations. Take for example Jesus’ statement “its more blessed to give than to receive.” That statement in no way plumbs with man’s conception of what it takes to be happy. All around us we see evidence that get is the key to happiness, not give. And yet Jesus’ statement is highly practical and makes good sense to those who have learned the joy of doing good to others, even as did He. By seeking the best interests of others, one can find a state of exalted pleasure, one that brings what must of necessity be described as “true happiness.”

     Some have deduced that true happiness comes from being in control–by being the boss. If we can just get to where we bark the orders and decide the courses of pursuit, then we’ll be happy. Many a person has “reached the top” only to find that “the top” is not what it was cracked up to be. How can we be disappointed when we thought that being boss was the way to happiness? Well the reason is quite simple, actually. Man is fitted for service. He operates at the peak level of his purpose of living when he voluntarily puts himself at the disposal of his fellows–even when he is boss. True happiness is measured by service, not by being served. “He that is greatest must be servant to all” (Matthew 23:11). Only by a recognition of this simple but powerful truth can we find that heretofore elusive happiness we’ve been seeking so feverishly.

     And could I make one more observation? Entertainers and professional

sports figures have such a strong influence on our lives. We are seemingly of the notion that if we had the notoriety and acclaim of these special folks, we would be happy. Do you know a famous person? Is he happy? I doubt it. Even if you find one who is happy, it is not on account of who he is, but what he is. Even famous people are constantly seeking of anonymity–they could be happy if they could just be alone for awhile. And note this: a prideful person cannot ever have any constancy to his happiness because his reputation and power are never quite enough to make it so.

     Someone has said, “Happiness is a state of mind.” There’s maybe some truth to that, but I rather think true happiness is measured by knowing you are recognized by the Father. There is genuine happiness in just knowing who and what you are and why you’re here. It will be found in the realization that you are being the best who you are you can be and that you are putting whatever you have at the disposal of others that they may benefit from your love and respect– for God and for them.