Tag: happiness

The American Dream

Everyone of us is chasing after the American Dream.   People from other countries want to come to America, so they too can experience the American Dream.  They believe that there’s promises of unending riches awaiting them when they get here.  We all want to be financially secure and never have to worry about a thing.   We believe that money will solve ALL our problems.  We earn more money, but still desire more.   It never seems to be enough!

In addition, we’re always looking for the get rich quick scheme.

Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.-Proverbs 13:11

If we’re honest, everyone of us asks the question, “Why are they so successful?”  From the outside looking in, it seems like the rich people are so happy!  As the verse above states, it’s only by hard work that we generate wealth.

God’s word however, teaches us a totally different principle.

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.-Proverbs 13:4

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.-Proverbs 12:24

I have riches an honor as well as enduring wealth and justice.  My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!  Those who love me inherit wealth.  I will fill their treasuries.-Proverbs 8:18-19, 21

How often in your life have you looked to God for your provisions?  If you’re like most probably not often.  Throughout the Bible, we see and learn that the things we chase after here, will only leave us in despair.

Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!  For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.  But those who miss me injure themselves.  All who hate me love death.-Proverbs 8:34-36

 

Happiness

What makes you happy?  Where does true happiness come from?

vector white bent sticker with smiling face

When I was young, I believed that in order to be happy, I needed to have a big house, nice cars, a fat bank account, the list goes on.Group of stylish people playing in a casino

As I’ve aged, however, I’ve learned that none of these things bring true happiness.

Society teaches us at a young age, that the more we have, the happier we’ll be.  Look at some of the commercials that we’ve seen on TV over the years. Cigarettes, booze, autos, exotic world destinations, etc.

 

Big promises for true happiness are laced within each of them.  Fast forward to today and see millions of people dying of lung cancer, and sclerosis of the liver.  A homeless population that tips the scales!  The promises they made were only lies, that were designed to benefit the company and destroy you in the process!

Homeless man sleeps on the street in the shadow of the building. Today, we’re inundated with videos on YouTube that offer similar things.  Infomercials of people standing outside their mansions promising the same for you, if you only follow their plan, you too will have these riches.

I can remember asking God for so many material things over the years.  With each one, I thought; if I only had the boat, the car, the truck, the house, the vacation, the __________, then I’d be happy!   I also remember being up to my ears in debt, and asking God how come I was always broke?   The bottom line was God didn’t put me in that situation, I did!  But how quick I was to blame God for it.  The only reason I wound up there was due to my relentless spending, all the while thinking that my true happiness was right around the corner.

For most of us, our parents warned us about these things.   We on the other hand, thought we knew it all, and decided to try it for ourselves.   They say that history repeats itself, right?  I think every generation, has struggled with these same issues.

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. -Matthew 6:19

A few verse later, we’re told why we shouldn’t store up treasures here.

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. -Matthew 6:21

The Bible was written over 2,000 years ago but the lessons learned are still so relevant today!  King Solomon was the richest man alive in the world during his time.  Solomon writes in the book of Ecclesiastes:

Those who love money will never have enough.  How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!  The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it.  So what good is wealth-except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!                       -Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

The chapter ends with a bit of wisdom from King Solomon.

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator.  Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”-Ecclesiastes 12:1

Maybe you too, have struggled with these same issues.   If so, let the words of this song minister to your soul!

The bottom line is, are we learning from our mistakes?

As always, I welcome your comments below….