Pursuit of Happiness

Often times, we find ourselves trying to answer the question, "what else?" It varies in form but boils down to the same thing: the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, the pursuit of happiness is like the American Dream. The manifestation and theory are unequivocal. 

The theory driving the American Dream is themed worship of creation versus the Creator. When we take the emphasis off the Creator and instead worship creation, in a broad spectrum sense, we fail ourselves the American Dream. The dream stays a theory, a wish list, a hyperbole. This demands the constant pursuit of what we cannot attain. Similar to the pursuit of happiness, it is unending and dependent on external circumstances.

These external circumstances differ in form but share a commonality: frugality or fleetingness (Ecc. 1, 3). There is no inner-contentedness when we choose to pursue happiness because the immediate value of that emotion depends on what we cannot control. 

1 John 2:15-17 nails this down when it states, do not be "in this world" but rather "of this world". Some may ask what's the difference. The difference is freeing. When we fail to recognize living in bondage doesn't necessitate actual slavery, we live in bondage to the world. This may be "lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life".

Romans 12:2 also speaks to this pattern. In fact, Paul refers to this as a pattern when he writes, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The renewing of your mind is a habit; in order to be the most effective, it requires practice. Sometimes this practice may even include glory in our sufferings, but in this we rejoice, for we know that our faith is credited as righteousness (Romans 4:5, 5:3-4). Simultaneously, the Lord calls us to rejoice in our sufferings so that we may share in His Son's glory, being co-heirs with Christ (James 1:2-4; Romans 8:17). In this same way, for how we value physical training, we contend training in godliness as more and inasmuch "we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God" (1 Tim. 4:8, 10).

Therefore, I contend to answer the question "who else" instead of "what else". Ultimately, this means choosing joy versus happiness. The contrast between the two meaning joy is a filling of the Holy Spirit. Its focus is on the literal Creator versus creation. This frees us from the bondage of the world and places a healthy reverence on our Heavenly Father. For if we care about something dearly, how much more does our Father in heaven care about it for us? Whereas the pursuit of happiness values the world, the pursuit of joy values the spirit and assures us of our hope in the future. How much more assuring is it to live in faithful confidence versus passings-by of the daily grind?

Supersize Me?

Several times a year, I find myself on the consumerism side of economics. It always humors me how skillful the sales person is in crafting scenarios and desires that are unnecessary to the buyer. The world flaunts and taunts us with strategies that create a self-serving will in order to convince consumers to purchase products and services they don't need.

"If you upgrade now, we'll throw in..."

"For just $5 more, you can get..."

This past year taught me what it means to lay my time at the throne of God and rely on Him to source it out as He sees fit. It is the gift that keeps on giving as it explores boundaries with other people's lives as much as my own. The more I relentlessly devote this time to God, the more He is able to do with it. It's the only sales-pitch in the world offering assurance and restoration from worldly bondage.

In recent weeks, God has provided me answers to prayers I had only dreamed. The Lord was able to guide my heart in utilizing intentionality to drive those prayers. As soon as I changed my attitude from "Father, God" with a hopeful heart to "Father, God" with a knowing heart, He showed me what assurance looks like. The Lord knit together patterns, conversations and prayers in a way that not only created a tapestry but made it a work of art. As God calls me into a more intimate relationship with Him daily, I pray He guides my heart to more closely mirror His, and in so doing, continues the path He weaves for me.