How To Find True Happiness

“Sing to the Lord a new song; 
 sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; 
proclaim his salvation day after day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.  For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; 
he is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the nations are idols, 
but the Lord made the heavens.  Splendor and majesty are before him; 
 strength and glory are in his sanctuary.  Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, 
 ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; 
 bring an offering and come into his courts.  Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; 
tremble before him, all the earth.  Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns.’
  The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; 
 he will judge the peoples with equity.” (Psalm 96:1-10 NIV)

There is a video being shared on Facebook of Victoria Osteen, wife of Joel Osteen, telling their congregation that we worship God for ourselves, to make us happy, because when we’re happy that makes God happy. (See the video here.  I particularly like the Cliff Huxtable add-on.) Thankfully, many believers responded quickly to challenge this false teaching.  

I am not surprised, however, to hear such things being proclaimed, for we live in a culture where the primary focus is on ourselves.  Such a message tells many exactly what their “itching ears want to hear. ”  that the sum of life is me and God’s greatest joy is for me to be happy.  Thus, one then can easily conclude, the best way to worship God is to live for myself.  

This is a message that rings of truth to the self-absorbed, but is in direct contradiction to the Scriptures which were written by the One who is Truth (John 14:6).  This psalm of David says we worship God because He is Lord and worthy of our praise.  This is a constant theme throughout the Scriptures: Life is not about us; it’s about Him, the Creator and Lord of the universe.  We live to serve Him, not ourselves.  

What is also true is that when we do make our lives about Him, we will find joy in the life we live.  Do you see the difference?  The temptations of Jesus in the desert were to put himself first.  The enemy’s line is happiness comes when we put ourselves first.  The Lord teaches us in word and deed that it is the opposite.  We find true happiness (joy) when we put God first.

Today, recognize the world, (and some Christians as well) has bought into the lie that happiness is found through living for ourselves.  The truth is God is the source of true happiness, and only when we are willing to worship and live for Him alone will we find it. 

© Jim Musser 2014