The Pursuit of Happiness

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” – Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)

Are you in pursuit of the American Dream? Do you know how to achieve true happiness? Did you know that true happiness means to be blessed?

The American Declaration of Independence includes this famous line, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” One may argue that the term, the pursuit of happiness, is an empty slogan and the fuel behind our materialistic society. Since many entrepreneurs are in pursuit of happiness, they have grown to believe that anything that can make them happy is their right to have. Though this view of happiness is unscriptural, the writers of the Declaration of Independence were not totally off base in using those terms.

The Bible does teach about happiness, but within the context of it being something that is a divine favor from God. This favor is a result of our obedience to His Word and His will. The word happiness comes from the word blessed. In His Sermon on the Mount, or what is commonly known as the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed or happy are the poor in spirit, blessed or happy are those who mourn, blessed or happy are the meek, and blessed or happy are those who thirst and hunger after righteousness.” It is from this passage that we learn of God’s true intentions for our lives. God does want us to be happy! But, this happiness is the bi-product of a spiritual pursuit and not the end unto itself. Happiness is not guaranteed, but rather it is a reward to those who do the will of the Father.

How do Biblical Entrepreneurs pursue this happiness? This happiness is attained by acquiring the following spiritual attributes taken from Matthew 5:3-11.

• Poor in Spirit: A recognition of our spiritual poverty before God. We realize that we are incomplete and only He can enrich our lives for without Him, we are miserable.
• Mourn: To have feelings of grief. We must not be too proud, but rather grieve for the unrighteousness around us, so He may bring us comfort.
• Meek: Power under control. We must not use our advantage or talents to advance our own agenda, but rather to protect and defend others.
• Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness: We must continuously demonstrate a strong desire for God and His Word.
• Mercy: A sense of compassion which leads to action. We must demonstrate compassion towards others and especially those who are suffering.
• Pure at Heart: A singleness of focus before God and allowing His Word to transform us on the inside.
• Peacemaker: One who attempts to bring harmony and reconciliation to those that are estranged from God and others.
• Persecuted for Righteousness Sake: Allowing ourselves to suffer in the hands of those who do not know nor understand our Savior and His plan for our lives. This being for the purpose of advancing the will of our Savior.

Do you still want to be happy? If so, covet after these things and happiness will be yours.

My prayer for you today is that God will give you the grace to cultivate these attributes and the wisdom to walk them out in your life so you can experience true happiness.