Are you living for God? I know the title of this message sounds like it's accusing you, but honestly this is a self-examination post. The reason why many of us feel empty or feel like we're not living life to the fullest or something is "missing" is because we don't put God first.
Yes, we may say we're Christians or believers but is God really first? Proverbs 19:23 states "The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." Fearing the Lord has many benefits; not only does it keep you from falling into sin, it gives you hope and a purpose. Proverbs 22:4 also says "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life." God said that if we love Him we will obey His commandments, and The Bible also states that His commandments are not grievous.
I believe the more we follow God and God's ways the happier we will become. For example in Psalms 34:10 it says "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." So people who seek the Lord they won't want any good thing whether that be cars, more money or even a better relationship. They will rest content in the Lord.
I think that is why many people are sad because God is not first. Of course you can do other things to better your life but what helps is putting God first because God is our source of True Happiness.
Do you think that the root of a lot of our unhappiness is that God isn't first in our lives?
Recommend
Comments (23)
I say throw the bible out and just live by Jesus' golden rule of "Love your neighbor as yourself". God can come first or Jesus, which to some people, is one in the same.
have you ever had depression?
YES, Yes, yes...& Amen !
(HE won't be much longer now...Praise His Holy name...truly manna from Heaven...)
I agree to put God first, but think its silly that that makes one happy. Often, my greatest suffering is in the name of God.
We are to be content, yes... but this is not always being 'happy'.
Have you read Job? I'm certain God was first to him.
Also, I think its sad to we think we have to have a happy face all the time as Christians... there is a time for everything in Ecclesiastes, even to moarn. If we were more transparent, authentic... we would relate that much better to everyone.
Don't sell christianity as the 'happy' life, its not an easy one by any means.
I think putting God first is the best thing, but it doesn't always "feel" happy. Jesus said in the sermon on the Mount that He'll provide all we need if we put Him first. That doesn't mean we'll always enjoy it. I think joy is not always a feeling.
Christian life is not always happy happy joy joy squeal sunshine daisies hip hip hooray. It's not all grief, because we look ahead with certain hope, but until we get there, there will be hurt. We cry at our present sufferings, in light of the comfort of God's promises. If we are living properly, truly putting God first, we are going to face persecution and ridicule. If we're not facing persecution, perhaps we're not talking enough about Jesus. Also, christians are not immune to conditions such as depression, where sometimes medical treatment is required. To declare "put God first, he'll make you happy" as a blanket statement can be dangerous.
wrong. who in scripture suffered the most? those closest to God, prophets were often suicidal, Christ himself agonized over what following God meant for Him. if you can look around at this world as mired as it is in sin and be "happy" following God is probably the last thing you are doing.
I don't recall continual happiness on earth being promised. It's not all rainbows and sunshine following Christ. Sometimes it can be quite a difficult and painful thing. He does bring us joy when we least expect it. But we are not promised perfection on earth.
We should strive to live God-centered lives because I do believe keeping our focus on Him keeps our lives balanced and it's His will for us. But that doesn't mean everything will be perfect all the time. We do live in a fallen world.
@iones_island@xanga - YES!!!!!!!!!!!
Define "happiness".
Just because you are a Christian does not mean you are going to be "happy" all the time. And when you are happy and feeling good it is going to be a different type of "happiness" then what The World perceives as being "Happy" it is going to be more substantial and profound. And then where you are going to experience a more profound "sadness"...that is not quite depression but it is deeper "sadness" then The World could experience and God will provide "the light" you need for guidance through these times in your life. Amen.
Pesonally I worry about people who are "Happy" all the time. There is a phoiness too it that worries me.
Interesting...thanks! It seems to me your post can be read at so many different levels. I've discovered following God to be like a marriage relationship (and the Bible, of course, references that too). So during my honeymoon I was so happy, but I didn't know my bride (nor myself, it turns out) very well at all. I was perhaps more in love with my own image of my wife than the actual human woman I married. Then as I got to know her more...and myself more (since I can only know myself more fully in relationship with another)...I suffered (and I think she did too). As I read the Bible (and from personal experience) many of the prophets and apostles suffered greatly as they came to know themselves and God more fully.
I can imagine as an old married couple, each knowing themselves more fully, there maybe a humble peace in relationship. As there is acceptance of self and the other perhaps there is a peaceful joy even in the midst of declining health. I only suppose as my own marriage ended in divorce.
But I imagine that same kind of peaceful joy is available in relationship with God as I know myself and God more fully. So it seems to me your post reveals the hopeful journey with God...and what we may experience in different seasons. On the other hand it is a long journey and I know myself and God so little that I also experience hardship, pain, and depression along the way.
Praise the living God!
@hesacontradiction@xanga - Where do you get that golden rule from, then, if you've thrown the Bible out?
@god_stories@xanga - you should blog about this "since I can only know myself more fully in relationship with another"
@xXrEMmUsXx@xanga - So I started to blog what I thought was about something else and it turned into what you suggested...interesting!
Be interested to hear what you think about it.
@hesacontradiction@xanga - how can you say throw out the bible and then live by God's name ... or his "golden rule".. when the very same thing came from the bible.. you just contradicted yourself ..
@god_stories@xanga - can't wait to read it!
It really depends how you define happiness.
For me, happiness is short term, short lived, something that we can gain from various source. I truly believe money can buy happiness.
However, only God can gives us joy.
"However, only God can gives us joy."
Amen to that!
I think you mean you can have joy. There's a difference between happiness and joy. Joy is much more profound. It also sometimes wears a different face.
Although, to be fair, I don't feel very joyful, either. But I'm working on it.
Happiness is all about your attitude. At least a part of it. I know that even when I'm sad I can be happy because Christ lives in me.
Happiness frequently requires ignorance. Therefore, if you want happiness, then learn to ignore God.
If you want to live in ascension, then remain skeptically receptive to the Universe, and continue to hone your humanity. However, that is a hard and narrow path.