True Happiness-Part 1
The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the Scripture is Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Happiness or "Blessed are" is found all through the Bible, and it can never be gotten directly. It is always a by product of seeking something else more than happiness. It never says when you see the word blessed that blessed is the one that seeks blessedness. Blessedness is the one that seeks after something more than blessedness.
Seek happiness or seek righteousness. Which should you do? If you seek righteousness you will get both. If you seek happiness more than righteousness you will get neither. The person that is happy is always the one that has stopped trying so hard to be happy and has sat down and said, "What am I living for"? Jesus says in Matthew 6 that you who are worried should not have anxiety over these things, but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. He is saying that the reason that you are unhappy is that you have made something else your trust.
Why is it that you sometimes cheat, lie, break your promises or break you own standards? The normal and natural habit of our heart is that you believe in principles like honesty, purity and integrity, but sometimes you have to make an exception. It means that there is one principle that is over all of the other principles, and that is that you've got to be happy. Oh you believe in telling the truth, but not if you're going to have to lose your job over it because you wouldn't be happy. You believe in doing this, but not if you're going to lost your girlfriend over it. There is only one thing that you believe, and that is that the top priority that you are seeking is your happiness. Everything else comes second and third. The kingdom of God is great, but first seek happiness. Honest is great, but first seek happiness.
Happiness is always a by product of seeking something else more than happiness.
Champions, have a great week!-David Vining
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