While playing Bejeweled on facebook just now, I started thinking some deep thoughts (because what else am I going to do while playing something as mindless and time-wasting as Bejeweled?). Many thoughts raced through my mind, but I dwelt primary on two ideas. The first idea, which had to do with the gospel being the greatest asset that any pastor has, I will dwell on some more and use as the devotional topic for the associational pastors’ meeting on Monday. The second idea, which had to do with the hopes and dreams for our children, I will write about now.
I sometimes hear people say, “All I want is for my children to be happy.” I want to respond, “Really? Is that all you want for them?” I hope not. There are more important things in this life than happiness. Happiness is fleeting. As I wrote a couple weeks back, “happiness is an occasional thing based on circumstances.” I was talking mostly about our own happiness, but it (of course) applies to our children as well.
What’s more important than happiness? Having a relationship with God through the grace provided by the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. 3 John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” The apostle was writing about his spiritual children; that is, those that he told about Christ and were saved because of it. But the verse is also so true when we think of it as referring to our biological children!
Yes, we want our children to be happy. But this is not all that we want for them. We want them primarily to be walking in the truth. We want them to know Jesus Christ. Certainly, this will bring them the greatest happiness that they will ever experience (for all eternity!). God does not call us into a dull relationship with Jesus. Through that relationship, we find fulfillment in being who we were created to be from the very beginning. As John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”
I don’t have much experience with Christianity..but I support you views on happiness!!