What are the trappings here? For starters, the mother in this scenario has set up her daughter for a life of disappointment by telling her to focus on so-called “happiness” as a function of some ungodly formula. Can a woman find happiness (more importantly, peace and contentment) within a godly functioning marriage? Of course, but that isn’t the point I’m making here. I’m weeding out the instances where ultimately the young daughter grows up wondering, “When is Prince Charming going to arrive so I can be ‘happy’?” This person learns about disappointment with every failed relationship, often growing disenchanted. Eventually, she’ll conclude that either men today aren’t worth the effort (and possibly consider homosexuality as an option) or that she simply is undeserving of a so-called “good man.” Again, more lies propagated in the soul of this poor person. Neither of these conclusions would be the result if she simply possessed the right perspective.
For the record, while it’d be convenient, we can’t blame our misery on those who invite us to join them on the aforementioned treadmill (e.g., the mother in the above scenario) for, ultimately, God holds us individuals responsible for ourselves. We’ve all had others lie to us. It’s expected. They’re human. People lie. In fact, being flawed, we even lie to ourselves.
The above is only one example of why I’m writing this blog. I suspect millions of people are in bondage, suffering at the hands of a much more basic lie. What’s the lie, you might ask? Listen closely, your freedom depends upon it.
Preoccupation with happiness is akin to running on a treadmill - continual striving while never reaching the goal.
Look around, most of your neighbors are in hot pursuit of some new and improved form of happiness, many of them spending the vast majority of their time strategizing, laboring, then rejoicing over small indicators that the prize is close at hand. But why are they so miserable today? Why do they keep the local liquor store in business, or the drug dealer, or the Internet porn sites? What kind of so-called “happiness” demands such an investment from a person? How can a person be “happy” if they spend all of their time chasing happiness; and then, in their disappointment, pushing harder and harder? It’s truly paradoxical to a person who isn’t fooled, like me (and hopefully you - if not already, then soon, for freedom’s sake). What’s truly astounding is that many of them call themselves “Christians.”
Case in point, Christians are among the most competitive people I know - sounds strange, but it’s true. As this perverse system of attaining happiness develops, it becomes about showing others who has the most happiness in order to establish who’s the most spiritually mature. In other words, so-called “blessings of happiness” are denominations of currency in an economy based on, what I like to call, “creature credit” (Romans 1:25). In this economy, proof of happiness in this world (e.g., proving that you’ve got more than your neighbors) is something “worth” all of the sacrifices one makes, including fabricating and living in lies. But what happens when the thing sacrificed is also the end goal? Case in point, happiness. The ungodly solution is to redefine happiness itself. This is most commonly done by stripping it of its core components, namely peace and contentment. In effect, those chasing worldly happiness do so having sacrificed their own peace along the way. Look around. People are striving after the wind, living to work rather than working to live. Solomon tried his hand at the prior and had some wisdom to share.
So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.
— Ecclesiastes 2:17
We each must ask ourselves daily, “If I’m working this hard, is it to God’s glory?” Is it possible each of us has been infected by lies like the ones I describe above? Duh!!! Of course. ’Tis why at the writing of this blog my congregation has received thirty-five parts of an ongoing series from the pulpit titled, The Deceitfulness of Sin. Lately, the Spirit has expressed His distaste for Christians in bondage to “happiness.” We’ve learned that one of the greatest, most pervasive and effective lies ever propagated is that Christianity is a formula for happiness. This is what the world has agreed upon and unabashedly, even authoritatively, attempts to press into our minds as fact. It’s a lie.
Christianity is not a formula for happiness. While a believer in Christ may experience happiness in their lifetime, for it to be godly fruit, it must sprout from a core of peace and contentment. A better job, relationships, homes, pets, clothes, reputation, et cetera mean nothing, strictly speaking. However, to a person on a religious treadmill, it is the proof they seek, the spoils of their labor. But doesn’t the Bible teach us that the Lord God is the One who gives grace? “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE” (James 4:6). Doesn’t the Bible teach us the true pattern for blessings in this world? I mean, if we’re going to contemplate sacrificing something, shouldn’t we be sacrificing our time/energy in humility for Him, not some so-called “Christian formula for happiness” that the kingdom of darkness encourages us to adopt?
Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
— 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
There are way too many Christians still running on that treadmill, still pursuing happiness with all their might, still striving after the wind. They are very disappointed, often downright depressed. They gnaw at their neighbors, coveting what they perceive as more happiness, more currency in this perverted economy. The remedy to their woes is a change of perspective that only the Word of Truth can offer.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
—Mark 8:36-37
These are good questions, aren’t they? Jesus asked them in order to push His audience back on their heels, for the sake of their deliverance. He loved to challenge people’s current form of thinking. Why? It was necessary to foster a change in perspective. He saw people tied up in their self-made religions, in bondage when their souls thirsted for freedom. This is the reason for great sadness, even today. Time has moved forward but, as Solomon wrote, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Man is a master at planning his own demise. He sets his goals and spends a lifetime pursuing them, to the point of exhaustion. Yet, “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8).
It’s incredible that a believer in Christ would share in this disease, but it happens to the best of us, hence our often-expressed disappointments in life. Christianity is not a formula for happiness. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). This peace is a grace gift given to the humble, not to those striving after the wind. We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). Sow human exertion and reap exhaustion, even if the end goal is something the world deems noble or gratifying.
There’s one more dangling thread here. What about happiness? Shall we expect none? If we are to reject the worldly definition for Christianity, what ought we expect in this lifetime? The best place to find our answers is in the Holy Bible, of course, which describes our Prototype (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2) as follows:
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
— Isaiah 53:3
Hold on. The Bible describes the One in whom our faith rests, in whose likeness we are being transformed into, as the One described personally as “A man of sorrows.” You need to let that sink in, your freedom depends upon it. The truth is that true Christianity, something reserved for believers in Christ alone, implies an ever improving experiential relationship with Jesus (btw, this is way better than any form of happiness resulting from kinship with the world). Search the Bible for all the accounts where Jesus is depicted as smiling because he got a new home, or mode of transportation, or relationship, or a better job, or a greater standing in His community. Then search the Bible for all the times He was persecuted, weeping, and lamenting over those He came to save. You tell me which is the predominant feature of His life. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). So then, what about you, CHRIST-ian? What pattern do you find yourself living in? Are you on a treadmill for happiness, competing with others along the way; or have you surrendered yourself in obedience to God’s will the way Jesus did?
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”
— John 15:18-20
Sobering, huh? But, absolutely freeing! There’s nothing sweeter than being pulled out of bondage, courtesy of grace.
Step back and ponder which part(s) of your personal religion the world has defined for you. Don’t call your Christian friends, either - they may be in greater bondage than you are. Read your Bible to find your conviction. If you find yourself asking, “Why am I not happier? I feel like I’m ‘doing’ things right.”, chances are you’ve got some things to pray about. You’re infected. Call on the Great Physician, the Word of God (John 1:14), knowing that you’re sick. “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12b). Allow Him to reset your expectations about living the spiritual life and enjoy the peace and contentment that comes with it. Shed all of the unfounded disappointment by getting off of the “Christian formula for happiness” bandwagon. Jesus didn’t suffer and die for your sins so you could tally up so-called “blessings of happiness,” counting them as results of “doing” Christianity so fantastically. That’s treadmill thinking, and there’s no peace in it. Perspective is what matters here.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 4:6-7
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
