 By James H. Cagle |
“Blessed (happy) is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 33: 12 KJV).
“That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: that our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 144: 13-15 KJV).
In the second paragraph of The Declaration of Independence we have one of the most important sentences in the English Language – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The “pursuit of happiness” is a natural right given by God. And government does not give us this right and cannot take it away but is instituted to secure this right. With this right, and its protection by government, people can pursue whatever they think will make them happy.
Most people seek happiness through wealth, success, and pleasure. King Solomon sought happiness through these same things and didn’t find it. He was wealthy beyond measure, was very successful and great, and lived in pleasure (Ecc. 2). But he “hated life” (Ecc. 2: 17). He loved living but hated the life he chose to live. He was of all men most miserable. We should learn from his mistakes instead of repeating his mistakes.
We are told in the Scriptures what will make us happy or content and at peace and that is being rightly related to God. But the world has rejected God’s formula for happiness and is in mad pursuit to find happiness in other gods. They are actually in the pursuit of unhappiness. These other gods promise happiness or the pursuant assumes they’ll give them happiness but unhappiness is all they’re finding and experiencing. “Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god” (Ps. 16: 4).
America could have strong economic prosperity and peace with “no complaining in her streets” if the Lord was her God. Since our nation departed from God and has made wealth or “Mammon” her god, our nation has had nothing but sorrow after sorrow.
There’s always the hope that we’ll get tired of our unhappiness and miserable state and turn back to God and find true happiness. But whether the nation turns back to God or not, we as individuals can be happy if we’ll choose to make the Lord God of our life.
“Happiness is neither within us only, or without us; it is the union of ourselves with God.” — Pascal
Augustine said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”
