The Secret to Happiness
It is to find a similar heart
Commentary from the Editor


Commentary Archive

I was in the line at a convenience store recently to pay for some gas. There were two people in front of me. The first was buying four large bottles of alcohol- he was far out of shape, looked withered and had no smile. The second was buying tobacco and he looked much the same...

People let addictions control their life and it comes in many forms. There is alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, drugs, pornography, sex, greed, partying, laziness, work, television, and even sports addiction…. it goes on. I know someone who let his marriage be destroyed over alcohol, another for cheating, another because he watched sports all the time. These are selfish things - self gratifying endeavors. Some worse than others- but do any bring happiness? They satisfy short term desires- but never long term ones. Do they hurt you and those around you? Yes!

The first step to happiness is the separation from the self. It is to deny those selfish habits, addictions or desires that control you and do something positive with that time... something called serving. If you are a Christian- this is your ministry! To unselfishly place another's needs above your own and help others. By doing something bigger than yourself - you make a difference in the world .... so find a good habit a positive addiction. Jesus said....

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last." John 15:16

Why don't most people do this- because it is difficult- it takes effort. It is much easier and takes less effort to visit a bar on a Saturday than to become a Best Buddy for a challenged person. However- the Bible says...

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:12.

By giving in to your selfish desires or addictions you are exalting yourself. You are placing yourself first over those around you. You humble yourself by serving others and by doing so- the Bible says you will be exalted.

Not to say it is wrong to watch football on Sunday, go dancing, go to the beach, meet friends out after work.... but you must have balance.

Never let one self centered thing or things dominate or control your life... this selfish...

Also- we all must work for a living and if your job is your passion in life and it is serving- than you are blessed. Most of us are not...

But even if you love your job- I caution. Are you really serving? I once worked at a job and to some their passion was sales. In their minds they were convinced that they were helping those they sold to. Well- some deceived to get their sales and many sold to people that did not need the product. This is exalting yourself... their greed overtook the desire to help others... this is not serving- because they were placing their needs above others.

True happiness can only be derived by getting involved in something bigger than yourself....

So what is your passion? What really moves and stirs your heart? Find out what it is and do it…. get involved! You can't do everything- but you can do one thing! Whether it is working with the homeless, teaching children, helping sick children, the elderly, just teaching, befriending the challenged, volunteering at school, the PTA, government, the church..... What is your passion?

The second step to finding happiness is to share your life with someone.

A relationship in this life is something that we all search for... the Bible says....

"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

People find relationships in many ways..... at bars, partying, at school, through friends, work, sexual attraction, online... and most people will get in relationships for three reasons - to satisfy their sexual desires, to satisfy their loneliness or satisfy their financial desires.

However- the common interest in all of the above is small. Finding relationships in these ways and for these reasons is just time filler - because they only brings temporary happiness- with time they all pass.

How long can you go to bars, party, go to school, buy things before you grow tired of them, your friends and your jobs will change and time and gravity will take there toll on your appearance. And spend too much time with the person you met for the wrong reason and you wish you were lonely again! It is why so many relationships that start at an early age fail.

What happens in most cases- people get married find they don't really have much in common, interests change, desires pass - they get divorced or if they have children stay unhappily in a relationship for the children.

I used to think that the way to find a lasting relationship is through church... the Bible says that you must be equally yoked.

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14

This means that a Believer should not get together with a Non-Believer and this is true- because the values are different between the two and this is true.

However- this is only the INITIAL step in finding a relationship- unless the church is your passion. There are people that devote their lives to their church and that is how they serve. But if the church is not how you serve... well...

The world is more practical than it is spiritual. You can pray about your job- but you will spend more time working at it. You can pray about a trip- but spend more time driving there. You may pray about going to Heaven- but will spend more time working toward getting there.... so don't necessarily look to the church for someone... find someone that has the same passion as you - but also has faith.

Find your passion and serve and there you will find others with a heart similar to your own. It may not happen overnight- but how long have you been looking for someone already? It is better to spend a lifetime of happiness than fill temorary needs creating a lifetime of unhappiness. And by doing so you will not be devoting your life to just one person- but to God and to also to others (serving)... to do otherwise.....

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Galatians 6:7

Seperation of the self- finding someone that is equally yoked and then serve - devote time to your passion in life and there you will find others with a similar heart to your own and that is secret to finding lasting happiness. All things such as jobs, friends, bars, looks, sexual desire- they change and fade with time- but your true passion in life is something that will never pass and can never be satisfied. It will be something that you can share with someone when there is so much in the world that is trying to tear you apart.

Find someone with a similar heart.

Written by Thomas George
Editor@boycottliberalism.com

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