I found an article this morning with the title, “Why Americans Are Unhappier Than Ever – And How To Fix It“. The author had some good thoughts on the subject, yet some I did not quite agree with.
But it got me thinking…
It seems as if we, as a people, are always looking for answers to our questions in some other place when God already provided us with those answers.
When I seek answers in life, many times I find myself opening God’s Word. I do this in an effort to try and find clarity, so let us do that and try to understand how we can obtain happiness?
Happiness Is Those Who Find Wisdom
Turn your Bible with me too,
Proverbs 3:13-18
13 “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”14 “For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.”
15 “She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.”
16 “Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.”
17 “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
18 “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”
Verse 13 told us, ‘happy is the man that finds wisdom‘, so what is “wisdom“?
Wisdom Is To Have Love And Respect For God
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding”, Proverbs 9:10.
“Fear” means, “reverence” which is to have a “deep respect for someone“.
None of us should “fear” God, but we should love and honor Him and that is simply the beginning of “wisdom“.
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Being happy is believing in and understanding God’s Word. This naturally brings comfort to us and when we have a good working knowledge of the Bible, it certainly answers many questions that arise in life.
What else brings us happiness?
Psalms 128:2
2 “For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”
When we rightfully get to keep what we earn, that naturally makes us happy. Making us happy is having a job we enjoy, we then take the fruits of our labor and use it to enjoy time with our family and friends. This does not mean blow your money.
Ecclesiastes 8:15
15 “Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.”
So happiness is the simple things; like working, eating, drinking and enjoying time with our families (Proverbs 5:18-19). We should be careful to note, God is the One who provides this blessing.
If you have a job that is dragging you down, consider another path as labor should make us happy, so find something you enjoy and then put everything you have into it.
One more verse to drive the point,
Ecclesiastes 2:24
24 “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.”
This was from the Hand of God.
Powerful!