How do we attain true joy and happiness?
The world generally tries to find joy and happiness in material things as well as personal relationships. This is true for all of us in varying degrees – including Christians. During a 2014 interview published by the Argentine Weekly, Pope Francis gave Ten Guidelines for bringing greater joy to one’s life. According to National Catholic Reporter:
Slowing down, being generous and fighting for peace are part of Pope Francis’ secret recipe for happiness.
The Ten Points cited by Pope Francis were as follows:
1) Live and let live
2) Be giving of yourself to others
3) Proceed calmly in life
4) A healthy sense of leisure
5) Sundays should be holidays
6) Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people.
7) Respect and take care of nature
8) Stop being negative
9) Don’t proselytize; respect others’ beliefs
10) Work for peace
As I glanced at each of these bullet points I found myself wanting to say far more than I could fit into an article. Some of the points are obvious necessities for living a balanced life. We should find time for leisure. It’s wise to avoid negativity and remain calm. We should strive for peace and offer our services to others. Caring for the environment we live in and working to provide dignified jobs for all people are admirable goals and wise planning for the future.
None of these guidelines guarantee anyone’s personal happiness, even as a group. Before I go into why I believe this to be the case, I want to briefly comment on guidelines 5 and 9.
Sundays are more than holidays and for family. Sunday is the Lord’s Day. Think about it. Pope Francis has also touched upon proselytizing several times in the past. This time he noted:
We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyses: ‘I am talking with you in order to persuade you,’ No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytising.
We’ve previously responded to this advice. See HERE and HERE. Unfortunately the reluctance to openly declare the gospel is representative of many Christian leaders today. We are living in an increasingly religiously pluralistic and postmodernist world.
The Holy Spirit draws the unsaved via the declaration of the gospel through God’s word. Being nice to others goes without saying – we are even commanded to love our enemies (Matt 5:43-48). Christians must be respectful when discussing other people’s beliefs. But the unredeemed need the saving gospel, not a social worker loving them on their road to hell. There should be some urgency in getting that information to them.
Remember the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20)? The Apostle Paul was passionate about getting the gospel out. He asked the Ephesians to pray for him so that:
…utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Eph 6:19-20
He wrote to Timothy:
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2Tim 4:1-2
But the reason why Pope Francis’ points ultimately fail is because he left out the ONE component necessary for lasting happiness – Jesus Christ.
Paul told the Philippians that he was content in whatever circumstances he found himself in (Phil 4:11-13). James tells us to count it all joy when we experience trials (James 1:1). We can only have true lasting joy when we understand the peace of the gospel as Children of God. William Gurnall (The Christian in Complete Armour) declared that “Every soul at peace with God is heir to God.” Here is the source:
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Rom 8:16-19
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1John 3:1-2
These eternal promises are the one’s which we focus upon whatever temporal circumstances we find ourselves under. Joni Eareckson Tada is a quadriplegic. Listen to what she says about joy HERE and HERE
Two question need to be answered:
1) Where are you looking for your happiness?
2) How can we pass this Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13) onto the unredeemed unless we proclaim the gospel to them?
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life – the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us – that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1John 1:1-4
How many people are missing out on this joyful message of salvation today?
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