Everyone wants to be happy. That is ultimately the motivation for everything every person does. All the things we engage in, regardless of what they are, are driven by the powerful drive to be happy… joyful… and content. The criminal and the ascetic monk both do what they do believing the same thing and are driven by the same goal… to be happy. They both believe that doing what they do will result in happiness. The same is true for a business man driven to succeed and the homeless person begging on the street corner instead of working. This is not a unique thought, Augustine suggested it centuries ago. It is possible to be happy, even when you’re dragged through the mud!
Augustine wrote: “All human beings are equal in both their desire for happiness and their right to obtain it…” And, “Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure: where your treasure, there your heart; where your heart, there your happiness.”
However, depending on a person’s birth family… their access to education… the people they know (Or don’t know)… they may or may not have a shot at attaining the things of this world which they believe will result in happiness. But there is something that is accessable to every person who desires happiness. Knowledge of God through His Word.
There is great benefit to knowing God through His Word. The better we know God’s Word… the more intimate we are with God… the more we are blessed (But not in the way “Your Best Life Now” promises). Knowing God through His Word results in… 1) Spiritual strength, 2) Wisdom, 3) Joy, 4) Understanding, 5) Protection, and 6) Eternal reward. Consider Psalm 19:7-11 and believe God…
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul {1}; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple {2}; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart {3}; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes {4}; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned {5}; in keeping them there is great reward {6}.
At this point it must be set forth that true, lasting, complete, total, and pervading happiness (Joy, contentment) CAN be found by EVERY person who devotes themeselves to knowing God through His Word (The Christian Bible). That is… IF you believe God.
If you believe God in Psalm 19:7-11, you will devote yourself to knowing Him through His Word. If you don’t beleive God in Psalm 19:7-11, you won’t devote yourself to knowing God through Scripture. Instead you will give lip service to God and the things of God and His Word while striving for financial success and all the things the world offers that are nothing more than chasing rainbows.
Where your heart is, there your treasure is also. If you treasure God above everything else in life… it will show in your passion to know Him through reading and meditation on His Word (The Christian Bible alone).