Posts Tagged ‘happiness’

When Money’s not Enough

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Last night I turned on the TV to catch the late night news. On the screen I saw photos of two men’s faces, side-by-side. The commentator said, “Charlie Sheen and Muammar Gaddifi–what do these men have in common?” The commentator then proceeded to answer her own question. She said both men tend to rant illogically. She also said it appears that mental illness may be an issue.

Here’s a third commonality: Both men are filthy rich. Sheen earns $2.5 million for every episode of “Two and a Half Men” and his net worth is nearly $100 million. Gaddafi’s net worth is approximately $1 billion. That’s more money than most people can fathom. These guys can buy anything they want. Or can they?

Actually, no. Psalm 49:6,7 says, “They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.”

Sheen and Gaddafi might have more money than most, but their lives are a mess. They’ve hurt many people around them, and they’re doomed for destruction barring spiritual transformation. How will they find that transformation? Certainly not by buying it. No amount of money will purchase the redemption of their souls. Christ alone can do it for them, but it won’t happen unless they place their trust in Him rather than in their wealth or, in Gaddafi’s case, their military might.

“But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave,” says Psalm 49:15. That’s true for me and for all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Money’s not enough to save anyone’s life. It might buy a fancy new car, but it can’t bring inner peace. It might buy a beautiful house, but it can’t buy love to make it a home. It might purchase stylish clothing, but it can’t clothe me in the robe of righteousness. It can buy an expensive casket, but it’ll never purchase eternal salvation for the soul.

Here’s my personal challenge: As I see these guys’ faces in the media, what action do I take on their behalf? Shake my head at their craziness and misplaced trust? Or pray that they’ll understand how God has paid a ransom for their lives and place their trust in Him?

Question: God wants our trust to be in Him alone. Have you placed your trust in anything besides Him for happiness?

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Posted in Devotionals | 4 Comments »

Happiness — Another Thought

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

This will be short and sweet, I hope, because I need to take a nap! I just pulled a red-eye flight from Abbotsford to Toronto for a Girls Night Out event in Oshawa tonight, and I feel like I’ve been hit by a semi-trailer. My scheduled flight was canceled due to maintenance problems, and an all-nighter was my only option to get here in time for tonight’s event. Dem’s da breaks! If you read this before 7:00 p.m. EST, please whisper a prayer for energy and clear thinking for tonight’s show. www.gnolive.ca

Psalm 119:54-55 present an insightful follow-up to my blog about happiness. “Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage. I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord, and I obey your law because of this. This is my happy way of life: obeying your commandments.”

Again, happiness is not found in stuff or in easy circumstances. It’s found in obeying God’s words, written from His heart of love for our well-being. It’s found in regarding His commands not as restrictive or a kill-joy but as the music of our lives. And it’s found in the benefits we enjoy – freedom from guilt, freedom from shame, and freedom from the fear of His judgment and wrath.

There’s my quick short, sweet thought for the day. And now…I’m headin’ for bed. Blessings on you!

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Happiness

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Ask a dozen people what brings true happiness and you’ll probably get a dozen different answers. Here are a few common replies:

  • Financial security
  • Physical health
  • Family harmony
  • Grandkids
  • Having a job that you really enjoy
  • World peace
  • Add your answer!

There’s no problem with experiencing happiness with any or all of the above, but trouble comes if we depend on them for happiness. Circumstances change, people change, the weather changes, the world changes. If these things on which we base our happiness change, then our emotional state will go through an upheaval, too.

So where can true happiness be found? In obeying God’s Word. I know, I know, not everyone will agree. Some folks feel God is determined to take away our fun and following His rules is restrictive. I felt that way in my teen years, but I was wrong!  

Psalm 119: 35 says, “Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.” It doesn’t say, “Give me a nice house in a nice neighborhood, for that is where my happiness is found.” Neither does it say, “Give me good health until the day I die, for that is where my happiness is found,” nor “Give me a family that knows how to function properly, for that is where my happiness is found.”

Nope. Happiness is found when we do life God’s way. That doesn’t mean we’ll never have problems. It doesn’t mean we won’t take the fallout from someone else’s issues. It doesn’t mean we’ll never suffer sorrow or pain or loss. But doing life God’s way guarantees freedom from guilt. It gives us the strength to face and move beyond our fears. It gives us peace in the midst of hard times. And it guarantees joy that comes from unbroken fellowship with Jesus.  

Where is happiness found? Not in anything we can see or touch. It comes from doing life God’s way. Let’s make v. 34 our prayer: “God, give me understanding and I will obey your law; I will put it into practice with all my heart.”

Have you ever based your happiness on anything other than walking according to God’s commands? If so, what was it, and what happened?

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Posted in Devotionals | 5 Comments »