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The Universal Goal
Think about it… There probably hasn’t been a single person in history, who didn't to be happy, but yet we still haven’t found an easy step by step formula on how to do it. We strive for more and better everything, but when we find what we thought we wanted, we want more. We keep trying to fill this void we all feel inside, but only the hidden minority ever seem to find true happiness.
I think the reason for this is because most of us have a warped idea of happiness. We think material gain equals happiness, or that our circumstances dictate how happy we are allowed to be. Yet this is not the reality we see in the world around us. The reality for the most part is that it doesn’t matter how much we have or don’t have, because we always want more, or better.
Sure, not being hungry and living a life of luxury can make life seem better. It can even make us feel happy or fulfilled, but only for a short time, and it never seems to be enough. So is this true happiness? Or is it just the perfect distraction to help us forget that we need something more?
The best way to illustrate this point would be to look at those who struggle most. In situations where people are hungry, depressed and dying of lack we usually find two groups of people. The first being those who are depressed, unhappy and without Hope, but in those same situations, we so often find another group. The second group are those who despite their circumstances find a way to smile, be happy and have Hope, all while sharing the little they have.
But how does this work? Both might be living in terrible circumstances, but still there are those who find happiness in the midst of it. Those who find Hope and joy in these situations, are in my opinion those that Jesus talked about when He said: Blessed are the poor and hungry, because they will be blessed in, and with the Kingdom of God (Luke 6:20-26). Please know that this does not mean, money equals unhappiness. It simply means that those with less can find it easier to realise what is truly important in life.
In Philippians 4:11 we read how Paul explained to a group of believers that he had learned to be content in all situations. He explains that whether he had everything, or needed everything, he learned to be content with what he had. Personally I believe this showed his faith in knowing that God always have, and always will provide for all his needs.
In a way Paul was echoing what Solomon said in the book of Ecclesiastics. Everything in this world has no value because all things come to an end. In the case of wealth, we see that rich people die with abundance, and poor people die with lack, but both suffer the same end.
But then the question remains:
“What is the purpose of life,
if we should just be happy with what we have?”
Does this mean that we should never want more? Of course not. Just that we should not let our happiness be determined by our circumstances. Happiness is the result of the Hope and belief that things will get better, in this life or the next. It’s knowing that God will make all things new. It’s believing we have a purpose, and that God is making all things work together for good. It’s living the life He destined for us.
Living the life God intended for us,
lies in the realisation that:
We were not created for ourselves.
Living a Life of Purpose
Nowhere in the Bible do we see God wanting someone to live a life focussed on themselves. On contrary, it’s filled with selfless tales and instructions on how to live for God and His purpose.
An extreme example of this is Stephen in the book of Acts. At his stoning he saw and experienced the true glory of God. This in turn caused him to pray for those who were killing him, while they were killing him (Acts 7:54-60). Through this we see him living the example Jesus gave us when He did the same thing while hanging on the cross (Luke 23:34). We are destined to live a life filled with love for God and those around us, not for ourselves.
This my friend is our purpose and our calling, and it’s the only thing that can have an everlasting effect on that void we might feel inside.
May we all stop connecting happiness with abundance, and start living for the things our Heavenly Father created us for. At the end of the day God gives and He takes away. May we all live a life of purpose, and may that purpose become our everyday lives.