10.Jul.2010 The Pursuit of Happiness

Most people would claim that one of their greatest desires is to feel good. We go after this in different ways whether by trying to look better, get into a relationship, buy something new or just trying to have a relaxing day.

Often we have our eyes on the wrong things in this pursuit of happiness. When we achieve this thing, we then pursue something else. These pursuits are subtle but ultimately we have found that the last pursuit did not really bring the desired result. We catch the guy and then determine that we need a new home. We buy a home but then determine that we have to renovate it.

These pursuits are not wrong but we need to recognize them for what they are. They are often great ideas but how much of this idea is driven by an inner discontent that will not be resolved when the goal is accomplished.

The nature of Man
Happiness is acquired within ourselves rather than from outside sources.

While marriage is a fantastic thing, there are still those days when the other cannot satisfy oneself. While I love my husband, there are days when I am discontent. This discontent is not his fault but comes from within me. Marriage compliments rather than completes.

A new home is so exciting and yet weeks even days after the purchase we notice its shortcomings. We claim that we must have this home and yet then we want to repaint, add things to it, put in new kitchens and even within a period of time it is no longer good enough and we have our hearts set on another home.

Original Unhappiness
Genesis outlines God’s creation of man and woman in an ideal setting. Adam and Eve had the ideal home, jobs, each other, were surrounded by beautiful things and a relationship with God. And yet still in Genesis 3 she believes that one more thing could bring greater happiness. Eve in verse 6 was convinced that eating the fruit would make her like God. In her mind she was filled with fantasies as to what this would mean but she was deceived. she already was like God.

Eve’s mistake was in the non recognition that happiness is acquired from within through her relationship with God rather than external pursuits. She sought externally for an internal solution. When she ate the apple she immediately was ashamed and unhappy. This is similar to those feelings that we experience soon after the achievement of our external pursuits. To seek things externally is fun and exciting but ultimately they cannot bring the desired happiness that we seek.

The Closeness of God
Interestingly God was close by even as Adam and Eve made that fateful mistake. His words to them in verse 9 were “Where are you?”

God waits for us and probes into our lives, wanting to be the source of our happiness. He wants to be our initial pursuit and wants to add great things to our lives. He desires that we are surrounded by beauty from which to draw contentment but these things are the outer displays of our wonderful God. Ultimately He is saying to each and every one of us every day, “where are you?”

It is our placing Him as our first pursuit that fulfills the inner cravings that we experience. He designed us to be fulfilled by Him only and waits to be our source of happiness.