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1 year ago
The Secret to True Happiness: Wanting What We Already Have
The key to true happiness lies in wanting what we already have. This age-old wisdom has been echoed by many wise individuals throughout history. C.S. Lewis's character in "Shadowlands" beautifully captures this sentiment when he says, "I don't want to be somewhere else anymore. I'm not waiting for anything new to happen. I'm here now. That's enough."
It's easy to fall into the trap of unhappiness when we constantly desire a life that is different from our own. We often find ourselves looking at our neighbor's lives and wishing for what they have. But if we can learn to keep our desires within the boundaries of our own lives, we will find greater contentment.
This secret to happiness was not a new concept even centuries ago. Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs, in his book "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment," wrote that Christians find contentment not by adding more to their lives to satisfy their desires, but by subtracting from their desires and accepting the situation God has placed them in.
The apostle Paul also understood this principle of contentment. In his letter to Timothy, he advised him to be content with the basic necessities of life: food and clothing. Paul recognized that true contentment doesn't come from accumulating wealth or possessions, but from being grateful for what we already have.
The concept of being content with what we have is further emphasized in the Ten Commandments. The tenth commandment states, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's." This commandment encourages us to focus on our own lives and be satisfied with what we have, rather than constantly desiring what others possess.
The writer of Hebrews also addresses this issue of contentment. In Hebrews 13:5, he urges believers to keep their lives free from the love of money and to be content with what they have. This verse reminds us that true happiness is not found in accumulating wealth or possessions, but in simplifying our desires and being grateful for what we already possess.
But the writer of Hebrews doesn't stop there. He adds an important element to the concept of contentment. He reminds us that our contentment is not based solely on what we have, but on who we have. He writes, "for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" In other words, our ultimate source of contentment is not found in our circumstances, but in our relationship with God. Even if we have little in terms of material possessions, we can find true contentment in the knowledge that God is always with us.
When we find ourselves tempted to desire more and better, we need to listen to the voice of God instead of the voice of discontentment. Dissatisfaction may whisper in our ears, telling us that we need a better job, a nicer car, a more exciting church, or a different family situation. But God's voice reminds us that He will never leave us or forsake us. He invites us to find our contentment in Him, rather than in the things of this world.
The restless search for more and better is a common struggle for many of us. We climb the hills of success, relationships, and material possessions, hoping to find happiness at the top. But we often find ourselves disappointed and still yearning for something more. The solution is not to constantly strive for bigger and better, but to find our satisfaction in God Himself.
God offers Himself as the ultimate source of satisfaction and contentment. Jesus tells us in John 4:13-14, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again." The only search that remains is the pursuit of a deeper communion with Him.
As human beings, we long for the perfect fellowship we once had with God in the beginning. We yearn for the time when we walked with Him in the garden, when our lives had purpose and delight. Although we have turned away from God and exchanged His glory for earthly pursuits, we have not found the happiness we were promised. The answer to our restlessness and thirst can only be found in Jesus. He is the Vine that brings life to withering branches, the Living Water that quenches our parched souls, the Bread of Life that satisfies our deepest hunger, and the Resurrection that brings life to our lifeless bodies.
Jesus is the Way that leads us out of our lostness, the Truth that dispels our deception, and the Shepherd who seeks after us when we go astray. In Him, we can find the light that illuminates our present darkness. He is all we could ever want or need.
In conclusion, the secret to true happiness lies in wanting what we already have. But it's not just about being content with our circumstances; it's about finding our contentment in our relationship with God. He promises to never leave us or forsake us, and in Him, we can find true satisfaction and joy. Let us turn to Him and drink from the well that never runs dry, finding our ultimate contentment in the person of Jesus Christ.
It's easy to fall into the trap of unhappiness when we constantly desire a life that is different from our own. We often find ourselves looking at our neighbor's lives and wishing for what they have. But if we can learn to keep our desires within the boundaries of our own lives, we will find greater contentment.
This secret to happiness was not a new concept even centuries ago. Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs, in his book "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment," wrote that Christians find contentment not by adding more to their lives to satisfy their desires, but by subtracting from their desires and accepting the situation God has placed them in.
The apostle Paul also understood this principle of contentment. In his letter to Timothy, he advised him to be content with the basic necessities of life: food and clothing. Paul recognized that true contentment doesn't come from accumulating wealth or possessions, but from being grateful for what we already have.
The concept of being content with what we have is further emphasized in the Ten Commandments. The tenth commandment states, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's." This commandment encourages us to focus on our own lives and be satisfied with what we have, rather than constantly desiring what others possess.
The writer of Hebrews also addresses this issue of contentment. In Hebrews 13:5, he urges believers to keep their lives free from the love of money and to be content with what they have. This verse reminds us that true happiness is not found in accumulating wealth or possessions, but in simplifying our desires and being grateful for what we already possess.
But the writer of Hebrews doesn't stop there. He adds an important element to the concept of contentment. He reminds us that our contentment is not based solely on what we have, but on who we have. He writes, "for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" In other words, our ultimate source of contentment is not found in our circumstances, but in our relationship with God. Even if we have little in terms of material possessions, we can find true contentment in the knowledge that God is always with us.
When we find ourselves tempted to desire more and better, we need to listen to the voice of God instead of the voice of discontentment. Dissatisfaction may whisper in our ears, telling us that we need a better job, a nicer car, a more exciting church, or a different family situation. But God's voice reminds us that He will never leave us or forsake us. He invites us to find our contentment in Him, rather than in the things of this world.
The restless search for more and better is a common struggle for many of us. We climb the hills of success, relationships, and material possessions, hoping to find happiness at the top. But we often find ourselves disappointed and still yearning for something more. The solution is not to constantly strive for bigger and better, but to find our satisfaction in God Himself.
God offers Himself as the ultimate source of satisfaction and contentment. Jesus tells us in John 4:13-14, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again." The only search that remains is the pursuit of a deeper communion with Him.
As human beings, we long for the perfect fellowship we once had with God in the beginning. We yearn for the time when we walked with Him in the garden, when our lives had purpose and delight. Although we have turned away from God and exchanged His glory for earthly pursuits, we have not found the happiness we were promised. The answer to our restlessness and thirst can only be found in Jesus. He is the Vine that brings life to withering branches, the Living Water that quenches our parched souls, the Bread of Life that satisfies our deepest hunger, and the Resurrection that brings life to our lifeless bodies.
Jesus is the Way that leads us out of our lostness, the Truth that dispels our deception, and the Shepherd who seeks after us when we go astray. In Him, we can find the light that illuminates our present darkness. He is all we could ever want or need.
In conclusion, the secret to true happiness lies in wanting what we already have. But it's not just about being content with our circumstances; it's about finding our contentment in our relationship with God. He promises to never leave us or forsake us, and in Him, we can find true satisfaction and joy. Let us turn to Him and drink from the well that never runs dry, finding our ultimate contentment in the person of Jesus Christ.
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