Most people want to be happy. From ancient philosophers to modern man, many have spent their entire lives seeking happiness and contentment without ever finding it, because the formula is found only in God’s Word. Happiness comes from our Creator, who wants us to be happy both now and forever. He wants us to realize that He is the ultimate source of joy and peace. With that in mind, here are seven critical keys to happiness:
- Being right with God – Being happy both now and eternally requires a good relationship with the One who made us. In fact, the whole purpose of man is to be faithful to God (Eccl. 12:13). Loving God and putting Him first in all things begins with believing and obeying the Gospel of Christ and then living a life of faithful obedience. We then have access to our loving Father through prayer. Living this way gives joy and peace that passes understanding. It gives the faithful child of God full assurance, even when facing death or judgment (Psa. 23; Mt. 6:33; 7:21-27; 22:36-38; Mk. 16:16; Jn. 4:23-24; Acts 2:36-42, 47; 8:12-24; 35-39; 10:35; 20:7; 22:16; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 16:1-2; Php. 4:4-13; Col. 3:1-23; Heb. 5:9; 10:23-31; 1 Jn. 1:6-2:6; 4:17-18).
- Being thankful and content – There is a direct correlation between a person’s gratitude and his happiness. When a person understands and appreciates how blessed he is, it will inevitably make him happier and guard against dissatisfaction. Contentment is a learned behavior that must be cultivated. Paul wrote, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Php. 4:11). Let us learn to be content so that we may “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Php. 4:4; cf. 2:14; 4:6-7, 11-13; 1 Tim. 6:6-10).
- Getting enough rest – Everybody needs rest. Our bodies are designed by God to need rest. Even our Lord needed rest while on earth (Mk. 4:38; 6:31). Exhausted minds cannot think clearly and are more susceptible to serious issues such as temptation, anger, and depression. Getting rest also does not necessarily mean getting sleep. It could mean having some innocent downtime for recreation or hobbies.
- Taking care of our physical bodies – Although bodily exercise and proper care of the body “profit little” compared to godliness (1 Tim. 4:8), they do profit. Our physical bodies are blessings from God, and we should be good stewards of what God has given us (1 Cor. 4:2). We will not regret taking good care of our bodies, as long as we do not neglect our souls in the process (Mt. 16:26). Taking care of our bodies will better enable us to serve God (attendance, participation in worship, helping others, teaching others, etc.). A healthy lifestyle may also add years to our lives that can be used in God’s service.
- Getting things done – Our happiness also depends on how we use the energy and time God gives us. Everybody needs a sense of purpose. We all have things we must do, and accomplishing them makes us feel better. Being lazy, leaving things undone, or procrastinating will inevitably make us feel bad. God created man to work, even before man sinned (Gen. 2:15), and our Creator knows best when He tells us to be busy (Prov. 13:4; 20:4; 21:25; 24:30-34; 1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:6-13; 1 Tim. 5:13-14).
- Socialization – When God created man, he said it was not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). God created men and women to be social—to love others and desire to spend time with others. Jesus said the greatest commands are to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves (Mt. 22:36-40). Spending time with others is beneficial in many ways, especially when we spend time with faithful Christians who help us get to Heaven (beware of evil companionships, 1 Cor. 15:33). Obviously, God knew what He was doing when He commanded the faithful and regular assembling of Christians. Christians coming together encourage, instruct, and uplift one another, and such a blessing should not be neglected (Heb. 10:23-25).
- Helping others – Many do not realize that being a blessing to others is a tremendous blessing to the one who serves others. One of the greatest fulfillments in life is helping other people in need, and that is a necessary part of serving God. Jesus gave the greatest examples of sacrificially helping others, such as washing His disciples’ feet (Jn. 13) and giving His very life for them (and us). Helping others is so important that Jesus said it will be one of the main criteria for entering Heaven (Mt. 25:34-46). Serving others shifts our focus outward, reducing self-centeredness, and we will be much happier focusing more on others rather than always on ourselves (Gal. 6:2, 9-10; Php. 2:3-8).
Do you want to be happy now and forever? Put God first, help others, and take good care of what God has given you, and you will never regret it!