Be Careful! These 4 Things Are Not the Source of True Happiness

Everyone surely wants to live happily and no one wants to suffer. But have you ever wondered where happiness is found? Today so many people stake everything on the happy life they imagine and long for. 

Have we been looking for happiness in the right place all this time? Are the things we think can give happiness really the source of true happiness? Here is Solomon's perspective on a happy life itself.

Intelligence Is No Guarantee of a Happy Life

I said in my heart, "See, I have increased and added wisdom more than all who ruled over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has gained much wisdom and knowledge." I set my heart to understand wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly. But I realized that this too is like chasing the wind.” –  Ecclesiastes 1:16-17

Perhaps without realizing it, we often associate a happy life with a person's level of cleverness or intelligence. An intelligent person is often considered successful and to live a happy life. Meanwhile, someone with only average intelligence is often considered to live an average life as well. 

In fact, that is not the case. Intelligence has nothing to do with a person's happiness. From an article I read, it turns out there are several reasons why intelligent people find it hard to be happy. Some of them are:

• they are always analyzing everything that happens in their lives and what is yet to come. As a result, they find it hard to relax.
• they have high standards for themselves and for others. When their standards are not met, they eventually become easily disappointed.
• they think too much because they know too much.
• they are pressured by the people around them such as family, friends, colleagues, and even their partner, because they are considered smart. 

No wonder Solomon, one of the most wise people ever to live on earth, said that pursuing wisdom and knowledge is  like chasing the wind.

For in much wisdom is much grief, and whoever increases knowledge increases sorrow.  – Ecclesiastes 1:18

Enjoying Worldly Pleasures Is Not the Source of True Happiness

I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself!" But behold, this also was vanity. Of laughter I said, "It is foolish!" and of pleasure, "What use is it?" – Ecclesiastes 2:1-2

Have you ever thought that a happy life is when you can have fun enjoying this life? Going in and out of nightclubs, changing partners, partying here and there, or vacationing in places people call paradise on earth? Or is it smoking, drinking alcohol, and living with total freedom?

Solomon too once tested the gladness of his heart. He enjoyed everything that pleased his heart. The Bible even says that Solomon withheld his eyes from nothing they desired and did not keep his heart from any joy whatever (Ecclesiastes 2:10).

Yet Solomon realized that all of it was vanity, foolishness, and useless.

I too once thought that happiness was found in moments when I was having fun with my friends, such as smoking and meeting new friends. But at night, before going to sleep, I would wonder, “Where has that happiness gone? Why do I feel it only for a moment?” Soon after, I would once again find how empty and hollow my life was.

What does a person gain from all the toil and striving of heart with which he labors under the sun?  – Ecclesiastes 2:22

Doing What We Like Is Also Not the Source of True Happiness

Everyone surely has a hobby or passion that makes us feel happy when we do it. There is a satisfaction or happiness of its own. All the more if you are skilled or gifted in the area you love. 

Perhaps you like children, and you choose to become a teacher because you love the world of children. Or perhaps your hobby is sports, gardening, keeping animals, playing music, playing games, cooking, drawing, and so on.

Of course there is nothing wrong with that, because those activities are not something bad or negative. Liking something and living with passion can also give us a sense of satisfaction and happiness when we do it. But that is not the source of true happiness. Why?

In an instant, what we once liked may, for one reason or another, become something we no longer like. If you seek and place happiness in these things, then your happiness will quickly evaporate. 

These are the things Solomon did:

I made great works for myself: I built houses for myself, planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made pools for myself from which to water the grove of young trees. – Ecclesiastes 2:4-6

And after doing all of that, this was Solomon's conclusion:

When I considered all the works my hands had done and all the toil I had spent in doing them, behold, everything was vanity and a chasing after the wind; there was indeed no profit under the sun. – Ecclesiastes 2:11

Wealth Is Also Not the Measure of a Truly Happy Life

Then what about wealth? Many people feel that a happy life can be obtained only when they have abundant riches. Is that true? 

Let us see what Solomon says about wealth in the book of Ecclesiastes:  

• whoever loves money, will never be satisfied with money. Whoever loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
• the rich, even when full, cannot sleep soundly because of their many possessions. Perhaps they have more worry. Wealth can even become a source of disaster in their lives (Ecclesiastes 5:12-13)
• when we are born, we come out of the womb naked, and so it is when we die. We take nothing with us from all that we have gained in this world (Ecclesiastes 5:15)
• wealth can cause a person to live in darkness, in sorrow, experiencing much trouble, suffering, and anger (Ecclesiastes 5:17)
• wealth often makes people forget their age, forget God, because they are too busy with their riches (Ecclesiastes 5:20)

It can be concluded that Solomon, that greatly blessed king, was delivering a message that wealth too is vanity. 

Without being hypocritical, those four things may indeed give us happiness. But that happiness is not lasting. The feeling of happiness caused by the four things above can disappear in the blink of an eye.

So then, is there a source of true happiness? Is there anything that can make our lives happy permanently? 

The Source of True Happiness: Fearing God

The end of the matter, all has been heard: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of every person. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil. – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

That verse is the last verse of the book of Ecclesiastes. It can be said that whatever we are pursuing right now, Solomon already had it. He lived surrounded by riches, was famous for his extraordinary wisdom, and could even enjoy whatever pleasure he wanted. Yet in the end, after he had gained all of it, he felt that all of it was vanity. 

He came to one conclusion, that true happiness, eternal happiness, happiness that will not be in vain, is found in living in the fear of the Lord and holding fast to His commandments. 

In the end, we will all experience death. Everything we have means nothing if we do not fear the Lord and hold fast to His commandments. Why? Because those worldly things are temporary. We cannot take them with us when we leave this world. The only thing we can bring is our faith.  That is also what will save us. 

True happy living is found only in the Lord. Let us live with our eyes fixed on the Lord. Do not be lulled by worldly things, much less become slaves of this world.

Let us do so with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the One who leads us in faith and brings our faith to perfection…  – Hebrews 12:2a 

May the Lord Jesus bless you. 

References: 

www.google.com/amp/s/www.learning-mind.com/fail-to-be-happy-intelligent/amp/ -  Related Articles:

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