The Root Of Happiness

The Root of Happiness

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time world outdoor-track champion, and 2014 world indoor-track champion. With all that recognition, you would think she would have always been happy, but she says, “In 2008 I went to the Olympics and I won. I had the money, and I had everything that I really wanted, but I wasn’t contented. I wasn’t happy. In 2009 I won again, and I still wasn’t happy. . . . And I knew something was missing. . . . It was time for me to start living for Christ.”^a

Her faith is what finally brought her the peace and happiness that she was seeking. Many Christians are happy to take Christ as their Savior, but they relegate him to the background of their lives instead of truly living for him. I’ve witnessed many men reverting back to the values of the world to find their esteem. I would argue that they have never completely understood the fullness of their redemption and God’s plan for their lives.

When Christ is Lord and is guiding the passions, priorities, and pursuits of a man, things are ordered. Christ is more valuable than anything that the world has to offer. After having tremendous success, Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul, learned this lesson. He said in Philippians 3:8, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”

Where are you today? Are you trying to find happiness in accomplishment, acknowledgment, and approval from the world? Are you hoping to have your heart filled from all that this world has to offer? Or have you truly tasted and seen that the Lord is good? Place him on the throne of your heart, and allow him to shape you in every way.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

Philippians 3:8