Spiritual and/or Moral Articles

Finding True Happiness: Part One

by: Maurice Perry

1 Timothy 6:3

3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising,

5 Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

What does it take for man to find true happiness in the world that we live in? How can a person be content in this fast-paced, drive-thru society that we are a part of? For that matter, what does it mean to be content, or be in a state of contentment, and how does an individual arrive at the heels of contentment?

Year after year, the greed level of society is grows to disproportionate levels, especially within the western hemisphere. With the mindset of having bottomless pockets, and the ambition to strive neck and neck with the Jones', Gonzalez's and the Rockefellers', Americans have unfortunately fallen into a pattern of life that has been built up on pedestals of self-pride, arrogance, greed and materialism.

Materialism has become a major headline, along with other sinful acts, such as sexual immorality, murder and violence. Materialism has sent the moral character and credibility of this great nation into a significant tail-spin towards the bottomless pit… hell. It is the spirit of pride, spear-headed by the spirit of Leviathan (Job 41), that has overtly corrupted and soiled this country to the point that secular society’s reprobate mindset cannot possibly understand the fact that this country was once built on biblical, Judeo-Christian principles and commandments of Almighty God.

The fact of the matter is that great gain does not come from the gain of material items. I believe Jesus Christ made it very plain and simple for us to understand when he mentioned the following:

Mark 8

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Men and women are in search for something that truly satisfies their hunger and emptiness. The unfortunate thing is that they are searching in the wrong places and for the wrong things, or people, to satisfy their thirst and hunger. Greed and covetousness is caused by the failure of a substance, person or any object that has been used to satisfy a craving in which the source is unidentifiable. And what do I mean by “unidentifiable source of craving?”

When we are born, we are brought into this world with discontent and hunger for something that will satisfy our cravings in life. What we don’t realize is that the emptiness and discontent that we feel as we stroll through life is a spiritual emptiness and discontent. The discontent is caused by the absence of a critical segment in our life in which will totally satisfy us. This segment is none other than the line of communication, or adapter to the heart of God.

The first thing that we must do is address the fact that there may be discontentment in our lives in which the remedy for it is not a new car, new clothes, a new mate, or a bucket of ice cream! We must realize that the source of discontentment in our lives is caused by the absence of the presence of God within our lives. It is through our relationship with God that true contentment and happiness begins to invade and inhabit our inner man. The only source of happiness and contentment is a direct line of communication with our Daddy God, Abba, Father, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

God longs for us to see Him for who He really is, Divine treasure! It is the treasure chest of the Father that fulfills all of our needs, aspirations, desires and necessities. He loves us so much and He wants to share His heavenly stuff with us immediately! There’s an entire kingdom that God wants to pour directly into our spiritual bank accounts - a kingdom that will sustain us for eternity. There is literally a hole within our heart in which no other item of any shape will be able to fill, except for the outpouring of love by our Daddy God. He wants to fill our vacancies with His Spirit. He wants to enter into deep dialog with us for eternity. He wants to be the friend like no other - a friend that will never leave us, no matter what the situation may be.

Philippians 4:10-13

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Hebrews 13:5

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

There is a mandate for us to learn how to be content. Contentment is a plateau of the Christian life that every believer must reach in order to be fulfilled spiritually, mentally and emotionally. The apostle Paul makes reference to the significance of being content in Philippians 4:11:

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Even the apostle Paul had to humble himself and learn how to be content, no matter the situation or circumstance, whether rich or poor, in sickness or health, in a state of authority or subjection, power or persecution. When Paul states in verse 13 that “he can do all things through Christ,” he was explaining to the Philippians that he has learned how to be all things to all people and adapt to different environments as necessary. This is the meaning of being content - to be satisfied and at peace no matter the situation or environment.

To be content, we must give God thanks and praise in everything that we do and in every circumstance that we are in. Abba, Father, is the main source for our contentment. No one on this earth is born into contentment. We are actually born into discontent because when we are brought into this world, we are immediately separated from the nurturing presence of God because of sin - not because of any sins that we have committed, of course, only being in the world for a short period of time after our birth! But it is the sin of our forefathers, going all the way back to the garden of Eden, in which we are bound to. Therefore, our connection and line of communication with God is severed at birth - this is a spiritual separation that parallels our physical separation from our mothers when the umbilical cord is cut.

John 14:6-8

6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."

To be shown the Father is what we must desire. Just to get a glimpse of His glory and majesty will be enough to make us content. As Philip states in John 14:8, that it would be sufficient for him and the disciples to be shown the Father by Jesus, so shall it be sufficient for believers and non-believers alike to be shown the path to the Father by Jesus Christ. For it is through Christ alone, and no other path, that we will be able to see the Father in all of His splendor and magnificence.

Let us make it a daily priority to be shown the Father. Let us seek Jesus, in order to be led to the Father. This will be sufficient for us. This will bring us contentment , and inevitably this will bring us happiness.

See Also:

Finding True Happiness: Part Two - Four Sources of Divine Contentment
There are four sources from which we can experience true divine contentment. Contentment, as defined in part one, is a plateau of the Christian life that every believer must reach in order to be fulfilled spiritually, mentally and emotionally. That being said, let’s look at these four sources of divine contentment in which are sure to provide ways to reach a state of fulfillment.

About The Author

Maurice Perry is an up and coming author in the kingdom of God. He is currently writing his first two books on spiritual warfare in the urban community. If you are interested in knowing more, sign up for his Christian Newsletter today at http://www.todays-word.com/signup.html

-------
Malankara World
A service of St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church, Ohio
Copyright © 2009-2020 - ICBS Group. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer
Website designed, built, and hosted by International Cyber Business Services, Inc., Hudson, Ohio