What makes you happy?

Ask 100 people what makes them happy and you might get 100 different answers.

Or none.

Not everyone is happy, though most want to be.

What does it take to be happy?

There are some interesting views out there on what happiness is, and pastor J. Michael Shannon shared a few:

“People have their own various interesting takes on happiness. Don Marquis was reported to have said, ‘Happiness is the interval between periods of unhappiness.’ Schweitzer said, ‘Happiness? That is nothing more than health and a poor memory.’ William Lyon Phelps provided an interesting insight when he said, ‘If happiness truly consisted of physical ease and freedom from care, then the happiest individual would not be a man or woman; it would be, I think, an American cow.'”

Many think position and power can bring happiness, but Abdalrahman, a ruler quoted in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is quoted as saying:

“I have now reigned above 50 years in victory or peace, beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to 14! O man, place not thy confidence in this present world!”

That’s not very happy.

Maybe it takes some certain thing … or maybe not. Pastor Christian Cheung once spoke of a fairy tale about a rich merchant, loaded with riches but unhappy. He asked around, “How can I find happiness?” A wise man tells him, “Look for a happy man, and ask him to sell you his shirt.”

The merchant searched for a long time until at last he found a happy man. “I want to be as happy as you. Sell me your shirt. I can pay for it.”

The happy man started to laugh. He hadn’t got a shirt! He is so poor he goes around without a shirt.

Then the merchant understood. Happiness cannot be found in possessions.

But amassing possessions is a key way Americans seek to be happy. That’s why, on any given day, you can find trucks like the one pictured to the right swarming through cities and towns across the country, delivering still more packages to make people happy … or so they hope.

Fortunately, the Bible helps us understand what can truly make a person happy. It’s in entering into a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ and taking up the life He has for you:

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life,” John 10:10.

Learning to be content – or happy – with the godly, holy life Jesus invites you to is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6) and satisfies to the depths of your soul. There’s nothing that could possibly come out of that truck to the right that can to that!

Does knowing Jesus, and living for Him, make you happy, or are you waiting for another delivery?

Scotty