Among the most valued of rights accorded to humans is the right to the pursuit of happiness.The operative word here though is 'pursuit',indeed for many genuine happiness(Synonyms given for 'happiness' include joy,contentment) as a usual state of mind has proved and is proving quite elusive.
The production and sale of self improvement books,tapes and the like all professing to finally make available that long sought secret of a happy life has become a major industry.In the process bringing fame and fortune(interestingly these two elements figure prominently in popular notions of what is required for happiness) to a number of modern gurus and pop psychologists.
Whenever pollsters canvass the population as to what in their opinion is required for a happy life,religion(though hardly ever emerging at the very top) tends to factor in the top ten responses.
And indeed that bestselling religious text the Holy Bible has much to say on the subject,but many of its prescriptions in this regard may seem counter intuitive in the light of our prevailing global culture.What for instance are we to make of the sage's counsel at ecclesiastes7:3NASB" Sorrow is better than laughter,for when a face is sad a heart may be happy."? Or Matthew5:11NASB"Blessed(or happy) are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."
Counsel like this is a real hard sell in the entertainment mad,publicity hungry age in which we presently find ourselves.In light though of the often advanced accusation of the bible as a text that promotes extremism, it may be good to point out at this juncture that the bible does not advocate asceticism,certainly neither king Solomon nor Jesus Christ were ascetics see ecclesiastes9:7,Mattew11:19.
So what exactly are these two servants of Jehovah known for their exceptional wisdom trying to tell us.This,that in order to achieve happiness we must give up the pursuit of it.I know it makes no sense,now don't misunderstand there is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy,why,the the very second fruit of the spirit listed at Galatians5:22,23 is joy(only love is put ahead of it).Jehovah wants us to be happy.But if we love happiness more than all else we will never know true happiness.At 2Timothy3:4 the apostle Paul spoke of some who were "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God",in verse5 of the same scripture he advises against companionship with such ones.David understood the secret of true happiness Psalm34:8YLT"Taste ye and see that Jehovah is Good,O the happiness of the man that trusteth in Him."Stop pursuing happiness(it is far to fleet of foot Ecclesiastes1:2) Instead pursue Jehovah(he is willing game Acts17:27),and then happiness will pursue(and indeed overtake)you Psalm23:6
