What is true happiness? If you were to randomly stop people on the street and ask each of them that question- except for a very rare few- most would say things like happiness is being independently wealthy. Some might say that happiness is having a new house, boat, or car. Others might think that happiness is finding, marrying, and settling down with the person of their dreams. Still more might believe that happiness is the result of achieving success and fame in business, sports, music, school or even church. However, as "good" as all of these things might seem, they simply cannot produce true happiness. They may bring temporary pleasure, or even elation perhaps, but never true happiness.
Interestingly enough, the pursuit of happiness through any other means but God Himself will serve to yield not happiness but a life of discontentment, leaving its pursuers craving more. Eventually such a life will result in bankruptcy, whether emotional, moral, or financial. Why is this? The seeking of pleasure causes a temporary release in the brain of a natural chemical, called dopamine, that provides a temporary feeling of elation. Much like other mind-altering drugs, dopamine gives at best a euphoria that soon subsides, leaving one empty and looking for yet again a means to cop another emotional high- something that can artificially relieve them from the hangover of the previous stupor.
This roller-coaster lifestyle is a vicious cycle that stems from lack of knowing the difference between true happiness and the chemical effects of self gratification on the human brain. It is for this reason that many who have started out in search of happiness have ended up with this very deceptive, poor, and frustrating substitute. For instance, consider those who shop as an attempt to silence the voices of a bad life situation. Something unnerving takes place, and what do many women do? They head straight for the shopping center or mall. Why is that? Because the sight of certain things actually causes our brain glands to release dopamine, temporarily masking grief or anxiety. It's not the clothes or jewelry so much as it is the escape from anxiety that is attractive. That is not happiness- surprisingly enough, it is a form of substance or drug abuse! (Don't worry guys, I won't mention the whole "Lowes or Best Buy" thing.) In fact, the release of natural dopamine in the brain is one of the most powerful forces known to man. Think of the wars or fights that have been waged- not for the sake of obtaining peace, but for the acquisition of things, peoples, or lands. This is why self control plays such a key role in our obtaining true happiness. For another example, studies have shown that the rapidly growing multi-billion dollar pornography and sex trade industries are fueled by the brain's natural dopamine production. Much like the lustful pursuit of things triggers the release of dopamine in the brain, researchers have found that pornography has the same effect when observed. So now, when someone wants to escape conflict or simply cop a buzz, instead of reaching for the more commonly abused shot of alcohol, pills, or any other mind-altering substance, all they have to do is turn on their computer or flip through any one of a number of available television porn channels and off they go into the intoxicating land of escapism. And trust me, these days as a result of the rapid decline of morality in the media, one does not necessarily have to only view porn channels to get there. Make no mistake, the abusive practice of these and other things like them is no different than the abuse of drugs or alcohol. They all serve to do the same thing: separate all who partake of them from God, the author and only source of true happiness. For all of these can be described in the words of Hebrews 11:25: "pleasures of sin for a season."
Yes, it is true, the Bible acknowledges that there is pleasure in sin, but only for a season. This is the deceitfulness of riches Jesus warned us about (see Matthew 13:22 and Mark 4:19). The temporary elation from the dopamine wears off and in the ensuing depressed state the sinful sufferer seeks to self-medicate through a similar act of sin. But, and here is the catch, there is a penalty to be paid. For not only are the effects of the pleasure temporary, they are also diminishing. That is, the sufferer must increase the dosage to achieve the same level of pleasure. This is the tragic toll of addiction.
Any way you cut it, the practice of such things is a form of self medication, but even more than that, they are attempts to do what only God can do: that is, provide happiness that does not wither away. As such, these activities are idol worship and must be recognized and conquered in the life of the one who is ensnared by them. If not, these things will only serve to further separate those who practice them from God and a life of true happiness.
These same words apply equally to those who practice escapism through religious activities. Indeed, much of the feelings that are experienced in church and other religious activities are nothing more than self medication. This is especially true of, shall I say, the more energetic congregations, where what is mistakenly called the movement of the Holy Spirit is nothing more than the release of dopamine. This is why so many leave a church service feeling empty and lonely.
Now before you start hyperventilating, go back and reread that last paragraph and note particularly the phrase "much of the feelings." The word "much" does not mean "every" nor does it mean "all." There are exceptions, of course. God promises to reserve to Himself a remnant (see Romans 11). Nevertheless, the very real truth is that true worship is the exception. All of the rest is idol worship, and we are instructed to flee from all forms of idolatry. How do we tell the difference between true worship and idolatry? Keep reading, and the question will be answered.
Flee from idolatry
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)
"Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." (1 Corinthians 10:14)
All attempts to build a church, to offer worship and praise, to minister to people, et cetera are vain apart from the participation of the Spirit of God. As the Scripture says, "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it." (Psalms 127:1) This same truth can be seen in the next passages.
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2)
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23)
Thus, apart from the love of God (the real meaning of the word "charity" in 1 Corinthians 13:2), prophecy, faith, wonderful works, and so forth are vain. You cannot have the love of God apart from Him. In point of fact, all activities are vain without Him, and so constitute having another god. By very definition, that is idolatry, plain and simple. Furthermore, anything and everything in this life, (including self!) can be the object of worship, and covetousness is a form of worship. The following verse provides additional information concerning this. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)
While idolatry is usually thought of as a religious concept, the Biblical usage of the term is all-embracing of the secular world. However, the most obvious category of covetousness is that regarding material things, and as revealed by Colossians 3:5, this is a form of idolatry. So, is it wrong then to have material riches? Certainly not! For there is nothing inherently wrong with having riches in this life. It is the attitude of the heart towards those things that truly matters. It is the coveting of the things that is idolatry and not simply having them.
Jesus, knowing this full well teaches us, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6: 20-24)
So then idolatry includes serving material riches, called "mammon" in this passage. Consider also the following verses found in 1 Timothy 6:17-19: "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." Notice that the material riches are placed within the context of pursuing eternal life. We are not to serve riches, but rather whatever we have is to be used in service to God and to others. Furthermore, according to Strong's, the word rendered "communicate" means "1) social, sociable, ready and apt to form and maintain communion and fellowship; 2) inclined to make others sharers in one's possessions, inclined to impart, free in giving, liberal."
Interestingly, in our modern world the word "liberal" has been subject to logocide: the murder of a word by depriving it of its true meaning. The Bible contains a prediction regarding this: "The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail." (Isaiah 32:5-6)
The Bible makes it clear that there will be a time when the word "liberal" will be used as a mask to hide evil, and we are living in just such a time. The error at work is counterfeit generosity. Unless we have first received of God, however, we can have nothing real to give. Those who have not received of God, yet want to make themselves feel and look compassionate and caring, are trying to achieve through the flesh what can only be done in the Spirit. That error can be manifested in many ways, such as addiction to "giving" other peoples' money away. Ultimately, the reason we know that those in our society called "liberals" are counterfeits is because they are very unhappy. If they were truly liberal as the Bible defines the word, they would be the happiest people in the world.
Nevertheless, though the "liberals" proclaim compassion, the fruit of their doings is misery and poverty, the breakup of families and the general decay of society, proving in abundance that doing anything apart from God is sin, including "compassion" and "giving." "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3)
This amazing verse says that even the most seemingly selfless acts are vain apart from the partnership of God. The same is true of all selfish or self-centered activities and pursuits, no matter how "good" they may appear. Without God, whatever we may accomplish in this life or seem to have become, the words of Paul the Apostle will be our epitaph: "I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2)
The "best" this life has to offer can never satisfy the deepest longing in our souls, and we will always have a feeling of emptiness, if we will admit it. All of the self-medication we take can never get rid of it, though it may mask it for a time. God knows this, and desires to give us His best, but the choice is ours. If we turn away from His offer, then we will reap what we sow. As the Scripture says, God "gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." (Psalm 106:15)
The lean soul is empty and can never be truly happy. The lean soul cannot even see the way to happiness, because that way is contrary to its way of thinking. For example, giving away all that you have would seem to make you poor, but the Scripture has another view: God's. Consider the following verse: "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." (Proverbs 11:24-25)
How can something scatter and yet increase? It does not seem to make sense. And what is meant by "The liberal soul shall be made fat?" The answers are to be found in the secret to a happy life.
The happy life
Looking for happiness in things, people, or places here on Earth is similar to spending your entire life roaming through the frigid apple orchards of upstate New York in hopes of one day finding a healthy coconut or banana tree: it is not going to happen! God designed each and every one of us- no matter how "self made" some may think they are- and only He knows what it takes for us to acquire true happiness. "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." (Psalm 100:3) In short, if you desire a life of true happiness, you will have to go to its source! Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
In this verse is the secret! To have a happy life, you must first have a life. No, I'm not talking about your physical body. Neither am I referring to your soul. It is a complete waste of time to seek happiness in physical pleasures or in activities of the soul. That should be obvious by now! The secret to having a happy life is to be one with God. For only those who are one with Him have His life, and having God's life is the only way you can be truly happy!
Must we wait until we get to Heaven to be one with Him so that we begin enjoying the goodness of God? The abundant testimony of the Scriptures is a resounding NO! We reap in this life what we sow in this life. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (Galatians 6:7-8)
When does everlasting life begin? The answer depends upon which part of the person is being made alive. For the human spirit, it begins the moment a person is born again. For the soul of that same person, everlasting life comes gradually as the soul is transformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. This occurs as the person works out their salvation under the tutelage of and by the power of the Holy Ghost. There is no other way. Those who continue in their sins, even though the spirit has already been saved, cheat themselves of the abundant blessings that God desires to pour upon them. For, quite the contrary to what many preach, the prosperity of the believer is based upon the soul:
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:2-4)
According to these verses, God's greatest desire is to see His children prosper, but notice the order! The prosperity of the soul comes first. Financial prosperity and physical health are predicated upon the health of the soul. The prosperous soul is the one into which the everlasting life of Christ has been sown in abundance. The prosperous soul is the happy soul. There is no other way to be happy. Also, observe in this passage the reference to walking in the truth. God has no greater joy than having His children walk in truth. Why is this? Because Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When we walk in Truth, we are walking in the Spirit, walking in the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus said when we do this, we come to the Father: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
In coming to the Heavenly Father, the following promise is fulfilled: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11) This verse includes God's promise to show us the path of life. We now know that the path of life is Jesus Christ. When we walk in the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we come to the Heavenly Father. This means we are together with Him, and this is what brings Him the greatest joy. This is why the Scripture says there is fullness of joy in His presence. It is because we are there and are one with Him!
Of what practical value is this? What does this mean for you personally? For starters, when you are one with God, you think His thoughts and His ways are your ways. You see things the way He sees them. In short, you are walking in the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit described in the following verses is in abundant evidence in your life. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)
Note carefully that the Scripture says that love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (i.e., self control) is the fruit and not the fruits of the Spirit. That is, the nine represent different facets of the same fruit. Thus, this is not a list we can choose from a la carte. When we walk in the Spirit, we walk in the love of God. We are joyful, peaceful, longsuffering, gentle, good, faithful, meek, and temperate. [Note: To be meek is not to be weak. Meekness is using your strengths and gifts to serve others.] Furthermore, this list provides crucial tests for measuring a church, a pastor, or anyone who claims to be a Christian. Namely, is the Fruit of the Spirit in evidence in their private and public lives? As the Scripture says, "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:19)
Departing from iniquity and bearing the Fruit of the Spirit are opposite sides of the same coin. This can be seen in the verses that follow the description of the Fruit of the Spirit. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24-25)
Departing from iniquity is accomplished by crucifying the flesh. In the words of Jesus Christ, we are to take up our cross daily. As should be obvious from this last passage, departing from iniquity and bearing the Fruit of the Spirit cannot be accomplished through self-help books and courses or through any program based upon human efforts alone. Living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit can only be done through the Spirit of the Living God. This is the Great Partnership between God and the believer. As Jesus said, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) As grave an error as it is to attempt this on our own strengths and merits, it is equally wrong to turn away from so great a promise under the misconception that we don't deserve it. Of course, we don't deserve it! It is given to us by the grace of God. That is the message of the Cross!
The path of life
According to Colossians 1:20, Jesus Christ "made peace through the blood of his cross" "to reconcile all things unto" God the Father. This includes "you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight." (Colossians 1:21-22)
Therefore, the first step toward achieving a happy life is to be reconciled to God. You must be born again! This requires true repentance: the turning away from all sin in your life. Sin is anything that separates us from oneness with our heavenly Father. So, sin is not limited to overt vices such as illicit sex or abuse of drugs- those are simply examples of ways by which we are prevented from being one with our Creator. Sin is anything that builds a wall between us and God- a wall that must be destroyed if one is to achieve a happy life. Sin includes everything we do without Him as our active partner. This is not limited to the past, either. Departing from iniquity is to be our very manner of life. Vocations, hobbies, church activities, and so on are all empty and pointless unless they are done with God. Remember that departing from iniquity is accomplished by crucifying the flesh. Most importantly, our repentance must include our acknowledgment of the following crucial truth: Without Jesus, we can do nothing; through Him we can do all things. When we live this truth, the promises of God are ours:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:11-13)
The next step in the path to the happy life is crucial to achieving the happy life, yet it is one few believers take. They do not obey the Word of God! Remember, the Word tells us that we reap what we sow. If we sow of the Spirit, then we shall reap of the Spirit. So what is a new born believer to do to sow of the Spirit? "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:1-2)
Note the connection between turning away from sinful behaviors and the turning to "the sincere milk of the word." The result is growth: "that ye may grow thereby." In order to grow spiritually, we must first sow the "sincere milk of the word" into our souls. But the Bible is a big book! How are we to know which parts are the sincere milk? Turning to Hebrews 5:12-13, we find that the milk of the Word of God is called "the first principles of the oracles of God." Hebrews 6:1-2 further describes these as "the principles of the doctrine of Christ." These principles are then listed: "repentance from dead works," "faith toward God," "the doctrine of baptisms," "laying on of hands," "resurrection of the dead," and "eternal judgment."
Learn these subjects well, and as you do, your understanding will begin to open to other truths in the Scripture. Note especially that these truths must be sown of the Spirit, if you are to reap their full benefits. Therefore, you need the active involvement of the Holy Spirit to sow of the Spirit. To put it another way: To truly walk on the path of Life: you need a guide. God as your Great Partner provides one, as He promised under the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament.
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21)
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13)
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
Combining these beautiful promises from Scripture, we see that if we will continue in the Word of God, then the Holy Spirit will lead us into the truths contained therein. As we obey His prompting ("This is the way, walk ye in it"), we enter more and more into the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus promised that this is the way to become free. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)
This freedom is called the liberty of Christ (see Galatians 5:1). It is this freedom, born of the truth, from which true worship arises. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24) This verse provides the beginning of the answer to the question posed earlier: How do we tell the difference between true worship and idolatry? True worship is produced out of a heart that is walking in the Spirit of Truth as evidenced by the person's godly lifestyle, including the Fruit of the Spirit. Another characteristic of true worship in the Spirit, indeed, of the godly, happy life is thankfulness.
"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." (Psalms 100:4)
Thankfulness is one of the hallmarks of the truly happy life, and as such, is a major indicator of walking in the Spirit. For how can we enter His gates and go into His courts except it be by the Spirit? Conversely, the absence of thankfulness should be regarded as a warning sign that repentance is in order, because departing from iniquity includes departing from unthankfulness. A heart that is full of thanks will express gratitude freely, both to God and to others. The unthankful heart will not. Finally, the thankful heart is a place of joy. This linkage can be seen in the following verses.
"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22)
Observe the repeated references to a continual state of being: "evermore," "without ceasing," and "in every thing" drive home the point that these are not momentary experiences. If these are absent, or in little evidence, then the message is clear: the person is not walking in the Spirit. Rather, they have quenched the Spirit. To be happy is to be immersed in rejoicing, praying, and giving of thanks. Why is this? When we walk with God it fills His heart with joy unspeakable and full of glory. He, in turn, bestows the same upon us (1 Peter 1:8). It is when we actually see Him happy that we experience for ourselves what true happiness is. Without the joy of the Lord we will never experience a truly happy life. Moreover, the joy of the Lord makes us strong. "For the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:9-10)
The strength we receive from the joy of the Lord is essential for dealing with the trials of this life. For, contrary to what many wish fervently were not the case, suffering is a part of our mortal existence. Nevertheless, when we think God's thoughts and see things His way, we gain His perspective on trials and temptations. When we do, our happiness is preserved.
"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled." (1 Peter 3:14)
"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." (James 5:10-11)
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:2-4)
Trials are a necessary part of the happy life. "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty." (Job 5:17) While not all trials are the Lord's chastisement, both chastening and trials are used by God to work the character of Christ into our souls. Significantly, the pleasures of sin are short lived leading to long term suffering, while the trials of godliness are short lived leading to everlasting happiness. As James wrote, "the trying of your faith worketh patience"; but only if we "let patience have her perfect work." Why? When we let patience have her perfect (that is, complete) work, then we will be complete, lacking nothing (the word wanting means lacking). Such is the state of godly contentment, which is yet another sign of walking in the Spirit.
The diligent pursuit of oneness with God produces contentment- one of the essentials of true happiness. The apostle Paul wrote, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:11-13)
Through contentment we learn to place material things in proper perspective. For the truth is we have nothing that we have not received, and because we have freely received, we should freely give. This is the essence of service. God is The Greatest Servant. So if we truly think like Him, we will think like servants. This is not humiliation, but being humble. God is not proud: He knows the proud afar off and keeps the humble near to Him. The night before He was crucified, Jesus Christ, the LORD of lords and KING of kings, left us an example of the servant nature of God when He washed the disciples' feet.
"So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:12-17)
We are not greater than our Lord. The example He gave is the very expression of the love of God. Imagine, if you will, the Creator of the Universe washing your feet! So ought we to serve one another. If we know these things, happy are we if we do them, but not grudgingly or out of some feeling of necessity. "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
In this is found the answer to the question asked earlier: How can something scatter and yet increase? Indeed, this is how the liberal soul is made fat (answering another of the questions posed earlier). "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." (Proverbs 11:25) When you wash (water) another's feet, God washes yours. This is the basic principle of being a servant-partner of God. When you give out of what God has freely given to you, God enriches your heart, giving you even more from which you can give. What He gives you is more of Himself.
The happy life is characterized by the very presence of God. The truly happy person walks with the Lord, and enjoys the same things that please the Creator. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed" (Amos 3:3) The happy person is one who is thankful (full of thanks!), joyful (full of joy!), faithful (full of faith!), peaceful (full of peace!), kind, gentle, patient, good, temperate, and meek. This person is a servant to others, giving freely and cheerfully. Above all, the happy person is full of the love of God!