By Chris WittsThursday 12 Sep 2024Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
I wonder if you’ve ever seen the movie called ‘About Schmidt‘, starring Jack Nicholson. It’s an interesting movie about Warren Schmidt, the classic nobody, a person who feels so insignificant he retires. Nobody wants him. They were glad to get rid of him. Actually, his wife died. He only has a few friends, and most of all, he realises that he’s getting older and time is running out.
The Search For Happiness Pt. 1 — Morning Devotions
One day, as he watches TV, he discovers the story of an orphanage in Tanzania. They were wanting money, and so he helps a young six year old orphan giving $22 a month as a donation. So his life now has some meaning, and he finds happiness in making contact with a little boy who doesn’t have much in this life.
Meaning – the eternal catalyst for happiness
Warren Schmidt represents many who are disillusioned with life. We say sadly, all I want is to be happy. But really, we can’t be happy unless we live for something higher than our own happiness. And today I’d like to suggest that praising God is the surest path to a happy life. Yeah, OK, it can be difficult to thank God for circumstances that are frustrating or painful.
However, we can discover that with Jesus in our life, we have a new reason for life. It was Jesus who said I have come, that you may have life and have it in the full. If we can praise God for all things, regardless of how we’re feeling, we are confirming that we do believe in God. Life can take on a whole new meaning as we become aware of God in his Word.
Let me tell you about the Reverend Ben Weir, an American Presbyterian missionary. Back in 1984 he was held hostage and imprisoned in Lebanon for 16 months. It’s quite a shocking story. One day he was suddenly taken while walking with his wife on a city street. A car pulled up and he was whisked into the car.
But when he was released, a reporter asked him how he had spent his time in jail. How did you deal with the boredom and despair? And Ben Weir said. I counted my blessings. The reporter was stunned. Yes, said the missionary. Some days I got to have a shower. Sometimes there was vegetables in my food, and I could always be thankful for the love of my family.
I can understand why the reporter was astonished. Finding contentment in the most difficult of circumstances is a great challenge, and Ben Weir trusted in his Lord for the outcome of an awful situation. Happiness can be found in the most unusual and unexpected of situations.
The advertising media today tell if we want to be really happy all we have to do is to buy their product. But does that really work? I learned a long time ago that TV ads promise a lot more than they can deliver. We’re bombarded with new products that are packaged very nicely, and then we’re encouraged to go and buy it. Why do we need it, or is it just to make us happy? But does having more and more really bring satisfaction? Or does it just feed the endless daily news cycle and leave me wanting more?
The Apostle Paul’s key to happiness was his level of contentment in the New Testament. Philippians Chapter 4, Paul said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whatever daily life brought him, Paul was able to face every circumstance, knowing that he wasn’t alone and he experienced some very real challenges. You can read about it in the New Testament.
He was beaten, starved in and out of prison, shipwrecked and in danger of death day and night. And he was hated by those who rejected Christ. But he said Christ’s strength was sufficient and Christ was the centre of his life. So I learned that contentment is found as we learn to trust God, whatever our circumstances. But we complain too much. We hesitate about the tomorrows of our life. How’s it all going to work out? We often rely on the things we buy and the money we might have invested for our happiness. Jesus himself had no earthly riches. He had to say that foxes have dens and birds have nests. But he said, I, the Messiah, have no home of my own. I have no place to lay my head.
Next time you feel the need for more things, remember the words that I saw once on a plaque. I asked God for all things so that I might enjoy life. But he gave me life so that I might enjoy all things.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father. It’s a big lesson one that many of us fail to learn that happiness does not consist in things. It consists in serving you and serving people. So, Lord, help me learn that lesson well, I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.