Are You Happy?

"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world."

1Tim. 6:7    

In a world of competitiveness, it is hard to be content. After all, we all want to strive for better and to better our status, position, or lifestyles.  While  this is not wrong, we need to understand that it can also become a trap.  For instance, fill in the blanks below... 

“When I am ___________, then I’ll be happy.”

“When I have ___________, then I’ll be happy.”

We may actually be content for a little while when we get whatever we put in the blanks above. However, it will not last. Someone or something else will come along, that will make us want that, or something else, and the contentment dissolves from our lives. Why then can't we find happiness? Why can't we get to that point of contentment?

For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 

1 Jn.2:16,17

We often focus on what we don’t have and forget the many wonderful things we do have. In doing so, we forget that there are far more important things, such as family, friends, health, and most important of all - a Godly spirit. Happiness isn’t getting what you want, it is being happy with what you have. The key to understanding contentment, is recognizing that you have the choice to be happy right now with the many things God has already given us. Appreciation for what I have is the first step to being happy.

 What are you waiting on to make you happy? Maybe you should look at what you already have.


Jim