Serendipity: Happiness
“Seek ye first the
kingdom
of
God
and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you.”
Matthew:
6:33
As many of you know, I am an Andy Griffin freak.
I know every episode—what is more disturbing—I know most all the
dialogue! One particular episode I
want to share is the one where Andy is reunited with his high school
sweetheart at a class reunion. As
first it seems like they pick up right where they left off, and before long
they are wondering what happened to their relationship.
Soon, however, their conversation begins to bring out the differences
that probably took them in separate directions.
She went off to the big city, in search of fame and fortune—something
she had always dreamed of doing. Andy,
on the other town, stayed in the town of
Mayberry
, with no wish to ever leave.
At one point Andy’s former girlfriend asked him, “How could you possibly
stay here? Don’t you ever wish
you had left to find out what life’s all about?”
Andy’s answer is, “I stayed because I’m happy here.
That’s what life is all about, isn’t it—being happy?
I mean that’s what everyone’s goal is—to be happy?”
Well, Andy, it seems that way. Everybody
wants to be happy. And everybody
is searching for happiness. Some
people search all their lives for it. Others,
in their search, give everything they have for it.
It certainly does appear that happiness is the ultimate goal in our
culture. Why, then, are there so
many unhappy people today—frustrated people—empty people?
The answer to that question might be in the following observation:
people that spend their lives
searching for happiness never seem to be able to find it.
Think about it. Movie
stars, rich men and women who could buy anything they wish, great athletes
with wonderful abilities, powerful people who have great influence on
others—all these example represent people you would think were extremely
happy. Yet, in every category,
there are many examples of unhappy people.
When I taught health, we always studied a unit on suicide.
One interesting fact I will never forget is that suicide knows no
boundaries. I mean rich people,
movie stars, successful businessmen, famous athletes and powerful men and
women all are potential suicide victims. I
once heard the richest man in the world say about his wealth, “It’s just
an empty bag!”
Empty- that’s a good adjective when we describe the world’s ways to
happiness. They’re just empty.
The reason people are not finding happiness is because you can’t find
it by looking for it—it comes in a quest for something higher.
It’s a serendipity!!
Jesus says, “My joy I give to
you, not as the world does…” Happiness
is not searching for happiness. Happiness
is searching for Christ, and in the process of serving Him, happiness is a
gift—a serendipity, if you will. The
problem with the world’s way is that it centers on “self.”
And fulfilling “self” does not bring inner joy.
When we serve Christ, we focus on others.
Now that brings real joy, the kind the world can not take away.
So, looking for happiness? Stop
looking and grow closer to Christ. And
as you do, something remarkable will begin to happen.
You will begin to be filled with His happiness.
It is a gift. You will
receive joy in Him, unspeakable and full of glory!!!
- Love In Christ,
- Billy