True Happiness

True Happiness
Over the years I’ve met many people from the very wealthy to the very poor. Within those groups I’ve seen some happy and content people as well as some truly miserable people.  The  one thing I’ve found is  happiness did not depend on the size of their bank account.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states, 
“To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” 
                                                   Ecclesiastes 2:26.
God gives wisdom Knowledge and happiness to believers even if we are not wealthy. True happiness is not dependent on wealth.
When I first met my mother in law she was by far one of the poorest people I had ever met outside of a third world country.  She lived well below the poverty line, even though she worked long hours at minimum wage jobs. While her children would help her out of poverty when they became adults she never became what you would call rich.
This lady as poor as she was always had the family over for Christmas, New years and Thanksgiving meals as well as at Easter. Somehow there was always lot of food for all there was even extra just incase someone dropped in unexpectedly.
My mother in law was not well educated she didn’t finish fifth grade yet she loved God and while her life was at times hard I can never remember her having a harsh word for anyone.
At the other end of the economic spectrum, I’ve met people who have abundant wealth in their lives, yet are unhappy.
These people I’ve met, work long hours to get all the “toys” and luxuries life has to offer yet they are never satisfied. They are well educated yet even have good families, yet they always seem unhappy.
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
                                                                         Matthew 6:19-21.
This I believe is a key to being happy in life. Not having to worry about your wealth. Loving God and serving him to the best of your ability.
There’s nothing wrong with wealth. Money, jewels and luxurious houses in themselves are not evil in themselves. It’s when they become the first in our lives that things go wrong. It’s when the acquiring of wealth becomes your god.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 
                                                                                          1 Timothy 6:10.
Even if you do not believe in God or Christ, what good is it having great wealth and all the luxuries life has to offer if you are spending vast amounts of time working. Working to the point you can’t enjoy them.
True happiness to me is not necessarily having all the luxuries as good as they may be. It’s having family and true friends that love you.
Above all it’s knowing there is a God who loves you. Who sent His one and only Son to this earth to reach out to you, Jesus, who calls out to all men
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                       Matthew 11:28-30.
Please think about it