Good morning on this Saturday, August 2nd. I was reading some of the latest research on happiness and was struck by how the studies have confirmed what I have observed over the years.
1. Happiness is related to the issue of loving someone and having them love us in return, this is usually related to family ties and issues.
2. Happiness tends to increase in men if their family ties are strong as they get older.
3. Having the necessities of life, a decent house, car and clothes, increases happiness compared to those who lack these basic items.
4. Abundant material things do not ultimately bring happiness because materialism is a vicious cycle - the more you have the more you want and the ever-greater wants seem to never be satisfied.
5. Those who worry less are more happy. Worry is a happiness diminisher.
6. Those who are more sociable and enjoy a good social life with good friendships are more happy.
7. Conscientious people tend to be more happy because they have more fulfillment in their careers and life.
8. Healthy people are more happy than those who are facing ill health.
9. Our level of desires and their fulfillment is related to happiness because it produces contentment. Consequently, those with great desires and a low level of fulfillment tend to be unhappy compared to those with more modest levels of desires who have achieved their fulfillment.
10. Genuinely spiritual people experience more happiness than others.
11. Those living with and in peace are more happy than those not at peace.
I am reminded that the first three fruit of the Spirit are love, joy and peace (Gal. 5:22) and the others track nicely with the research. Christ is not only the way, the truth and the life, our personal relationship with Him is the way to true happiness. Did you notice that most of the eleven things listed above are related in some way to contentment? Scripture says, Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Changing the Mind of God - Part 2. It focuses on changing the mind of God through our prayers for others. I hope I'll see you there.
Mel Brown