Seek God, not Happiness

Jo555 · Feb 18, 2025

I have never met anyone that sought happiness and caught it; even wealthy people with great spouses and lovely children.

Matthew 6

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.[f]

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[g] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Jo555 · Feb 18, 2025

Philippians 4:
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your[c] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to [d]be abased, and I know how to [e]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through [f]Christ who strengthens me.

David Lamb · Feb 18, 2025

Jo555 said:
I have never met anyone that sought happiness and caught it; even wealthy people with great spouses and lovely children.

Matthew 6
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.[f]

Do Not Be Anxious
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[g] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I agree with what you wrote, with the proviso that the word translated, "blessed" in the New Testament is makarios, which also means "happy." Indeed it is translated as "happy" in Romans 14:22:

“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” (Ro 14:22 NKJV)

But of course, biblical happiness is deep-down and long-lasting, not going around with a fixed grin on our faces!

Maria Billingsley · Feb 18, 2025

Jo555 said:
I have never met anyone that sought happiness and caught it; even wealthy people with great spouses and lovely children.

Matthew 6
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.[f]

Do Not Be Anxious
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[g] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Seeking God is happiness.
Be blessed!

Jo555 · Feb 18, 2025

David Lamb said:
I agree with what you wrote, with the proviso that the word translated, "blessed" in the New Testament is makarios, which also means "happy." Indeed it is translated as "happy" in Romans 14:22:

“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” (Ro 14:22 NKJV)

But of course, biblical happiness is deep-down and long-lasting, not going around with a fixed grin on our faces!

Thank you David for that clarification. I really like that, blessed / happy.

And thing is the ones I have forefront in my mind did not wear masks, but did say stuff like, "i can't understand it. I have a good life, nice home, plenty of money, great spouse, but I'm not happy."

Just had someone tell me this about 10 days ago.

I have my own testimony there too. I can't say I was miserable or even unhappy, but I knew there was much more in the Lord.

We seek the Lord and lose ourselves in Him and his service out of love and happiness will follow. There will be times of grief too, but even in that we
can rejoice because we are one with Him.

Jesus was described as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, but even in that He had his Father, that love and Oneness with Him, that alone is more gratifying and fulfilling than human happiness.

Jo555 · Feb 18, 2025

Maria Billingsley said:
Seeking God is happiness.
Be blessed!

Thank you Maria. Appreciate the feedback. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

NBB · Feb 18, 2025

I always talk about this, because i have experienced it, and even when there was a low in my life, i mean, i believe the meaning of life and the best you can do to have satisfaction and fulfillment is just be filled with the Holy spirit, like pentecostals believe.

The theologies that say that you get filled at believing are very damaging.
Like in the bible when the apostles asked those believers: "did you receive the Holy spirit when you believed?" they said no and then they prayed for them, we need to seek this too.

Jo555 · Feb 18, 2025

NBB said:
I always talk about this, because i have experienced it, and even when there was a low in my life, i mean, i believe the meaning of life and the best you can do to have satisfaction and fulfillment is just be filled with the Holy spirit, like pentecostals believe.

The theologies that say that you get filled at believing are very damaging.
Like in the bible when the apostles asked those believers: "did you receive the Holy spirit when you believed?" they said no and then they prayed for them, we need to seek this too.

Yes. I'm not sure when it occurs, but it did appear to be a separate occurrence then, so it probably is now too.

I remember asking for it as a child, and receiving it. Was overwhelmed with his love I cried like a baby. My sister came in the room to find out what all the commotion was about and He told me to tell her He loves her, so I did.

I don't know if it happens that way for everyone. I was just a kid and was waiting on evidence of it so I kept asking and it came and He overwhelmed me with his love.

Jo555 · Feb 18, 2025

Jo555 said:
Yes. I'm not sure when it occurs, but it did appear to be a separate occurrence then, so it probably is now too.

I remember asking for it as a child, and receiving it. Was overwhelmed with his love I cried like a baby. My sister came in the room to find out what all the commotion was about and He told me to tell her He loves her, so I did.

I don't know if it happens that way for everyone. I was just a kid and was waiting on evidence of it so I kept asking and it came and He overwhelmed me with his love.

There is also generally a greater measure in ministry, like how the Holy Spirit ascended on Jesus like a dove before He entered his ministry. We know He was God in the flesh, but this appeared to be a special anointing for ministry.

Sometimes I'm with others and He amps it up. Not always, but at times.

I'm at the point in my life where I have seen enough suffering, and went through much pain for others it is like the pursuit of my happiness seems superficial, even if that happiness is in his presence, something I coveted often in the past. Oh, don't get me wrong, still desire it and love it, but it is not something i constantly chase like in the past. I've even wished myself eternal hell if it could relieve others sufferings.

And you understand as much as any human can understand why Jesus would be willing to come and suffer so for love of Father and us; to be cut off from the presence of God, taking on sin, and the gates of hell for us.

The darkened mind thinks this was some cruel act on Father's behalf. Jesus Himself said He Himself laid down his life and at any time can take it up again.

Thank God I don't have to visit those gates because of Jesus.

So don't take me wrong please. There is so much good and transformation in the presence of God. For me it became something I coveted often and didn't want to leave my God bubble. It became all about me and God had to eventually grow me up.

Jo555 · Feb 18, 2025

Jo555 said:
There is also generally a greater measure in ministry, like how the Holy Spirit ascended on Jesus like a dove before He entered his ministry. We know He was God in the flesh, but this appeared to be a special anointing for ministry.

Sometimes I'm with others and He amps it up. Not always, but at times.

I'm at the point in my life where I have seen enough suffering, and went through much pain for others it is like the pursuit of my happiness seems superficial, even if that happiness is in his presence, something I coveted often in the past. Oh, don't get me wrong, still desire it and love it, but it is not something i constantly chase like in the past. I've even wished myself eternal hell if it could relieve others sufferings.

And you understand as much as any human can understand why Jesus would be willing to come and suffer so for love of Father and us; to be cut off from the presence of God, taking on sin, and the gates of hell for us.

The darkened mind thinks this was some cruel act on Father's behalf. Jesus Himself said He Himself laid down his life and at any time can take it up again.

Thank God I don't have to visit those gates because of Jesus.

So don't take me wrong please. There is so much good and transformation in the presence of God. For me it became something I coveted often and didn't want to leave my God bubble. It became all about me and God had to eventually grow me up.

I should add that when we walk through this path, partaking in his sufferings, we know that as we persevere, our present sufferings is as a light affliction compared to what awaits us.

As I'm sure others know, and the greater intimacy that comes with it.

May take awhile, depending on what He is doing or getting at, but it is there awaiting us.

Seek God, not Happiness

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Matthew 6​

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven​

Do Not Be Anxious​

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Matthew 6​

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven​

Do Not Be Anxious​

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Matthew 6​

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven​

Do Not Be Anxious​

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