Saturday December 17, 2011

Read Matthew 10:39; Mark 8:35

 

If you were to google ‘”How To Be Really Happy” you’d get some 724 million results. Google ‘Happy’ by itself and you get 2billion, 630 million hits!!! WOW! It appears that everyone in the world (there’s only about 6.4 billion people) wants to be happy. It appears that everyone is chasing happiness.

 

Yet I know of and have read of literally thousands of people who have sought happiness in many areas and have come to realise that what they thought would make them happy was really a lie. They were left empty and disillusioned. Some sought happiness in more money but it failed. Others sought it in promotions and work. It too failed. Others sought it in sex and drugs. They ended up absolutely miserable and with a wrecked life.

 

Jesus’ words in vs 39 are telling and speak volumes for us about ‘happiness’. What Jesus is saying is paramount. If we ‘find’ our life in this world and enjoy all the trappings and blessings of this world then we will actually lose it. The epitome of this is the rich man who indulges himself in every area but ends up miserable and lonely, destitute and without friends or family beside him.  The things of this world cannot buy happiness. Countless testimonies exist of this fact.

 

But the man, woman or child who loses his or her life for Jesus’ sake will find life. That person will find true and full life. Why? Because he/she is actually serving a greater power/being above himself. Self centredness and self indulgence may bring a 5 minute thrill but it will never ever give that deep satisfaction and joy of a full life worth living. Serving and giving others, especially Christ Jesus, brings a deep sense of peace and security that nothing else in this world can replicate or imitate.

Unfortunately many people get caught in a spiralling vortex of self indulgence. They are mistaken when they think that happiness is found in self - self fulfilment, self indulgence, self promotion etc. But as the first attempt brings failure they try harder at something else. When that fails to please, they try even harder at seeking self fulfilment. The cycle continues until tragedy inevitably strikes!  A self indulgent lifestyle almost invariably ends in disaster. Addictions are a common outcome. Suicide, depression and apathy have resulted in other cases. Further afield, families and friends and relationships have been destroyed by self indulgent people seeking to maximise their own pleasure. The carnage from one self indulgent, pleasure seeking life can be enormous.

 

But at the other extreme, a life lived for Christ’s sake, a life of cross carrying and blessing others can have an incredible impact on people’s lives and the world of others. Blessing others and giving to others creates an adrenaline rush that no amount of self can ever replicate. Even more so, when that other centredness comes out of your love for Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

¨ In a desperate call for prayer one Syrian Christian pleaded: "Please be praying for the situation here. The extremists will take advantage of the situation and things will get worse. Syria needs more prayers, now please!"

¨ Pray that Open Doors' team members in Syria will be able to continue their work providing literature and training and establishing links with the Orthodox Church and protestant denominations.

¨ Pray for an end to the violence and for peace and stability to be restored.

 

Ask the Lord what one thing you can do  today that is other centred and a blessing to someone else. Having   asked, do it!