What Makes You Happy?
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you.
-- 1 Corinthians 1:26
What if all Christians had bank accounts full of money? What if all Christians were successful in all they did? What if all Christians lived on the best streets, drove the best cars and ate at the fanciest restaurants? What if all Christians enjoyed perfect health? What if all Christians were physically beautiful, had loving marriages and perfect children?
That’s easy! Everyone would want to be a Christian -- for all the wrong reasons. Of course, it wouldn’t work that way. God knows our hearts and He knows when people only want Him for what He can do for them and He knows when people love Him for who He is.
Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. -- 1 Corinthians 1:27
The truth is financial success doesn’t make you happy. Some of us joke that we’d like to try it one day but when you get past the basics of food, shelter and health, we really can be pretty happy. The trick is focusing our minds and hearts to being grateful for what we do have rather than what we don’t have.
See, all those people who think they’d be happier with more stuff, will never have enough. Those of us who drink from living water will always have all we need. Those other people who thrive on things of the world, look at God’s people and wonder what’s up. They don’t understand how we can be so happy, so content, so right with our world.
God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God. -- 1 Corinthians 1:28-29
What’s important? The laughter of a child or making sure that child has the “best” clothes from the “best” store? Playing games as a family or attending “the” event of the season? Driving long hours in an expensive SUV and missing your kids’ school events or making a short commute in an older car and attending every event?
Christians don’t have perfect lives. Some of us struggle financially. Some of us have health issues. Some of us die younger than we’d planned. Some of us suffer broken relationships. And some of us have success and blessings beyond measure. Regardless of our circumstances on this earth, we are surrounded by a God who loves us, strengthens us, and promises an eternity in His Presence if we just seek Him and call His name. And that’s what sets us apart.
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