why aren't we happy?

i have asked myself this question on many occasions and the truth is i don't know why some days i'm not. one of our sunday school teachers said this past weekend that GOD does want us to have trials in our life. we wouldn't be human if we didn't have those trials or burdens. some days i have asked GOD, "why did adam have to eat the apple when he lived in paradise?"

with advancement we have made our lives almost too easy. sometimes i wish we had simpler lives. sometimes i think maybe the human race has become so advanced that we have forgotten what it means to truly be in need. we are always looking for something newer, shinier, and easier. i have food on the table, clothing to clothe my back and shelter from the rain; this should be enough for me (luke 12:22-23). there is a story in the new testament of a rich man that asks JESUS what else he can give to be assured a spot in heaven and CHRIST replies give up your money. the thought of it scares him and he walks away (matthew 19:16-23). our financial security is not real security - money can always blow away. most of us think this way, that if we can only save enough that we will always have security in our life, but what is enough?

envy rots the bones (proverbs 14:30), and we are some envious people. how many times have you looked at someones home, or car and wished you had that? how many times have you wished you could go on that luxurious vacation? how many times have you thought, i wish i had the better clothes and wouldn't have to always buy something on sale? most of our wishes are material goods and i hate to break it to you, but you can't take it with you when you die. most of us don't have a sense of balance in our lives, we are always striving for more to make us feel better about ourselves. that's probably one reason that so many of us are in debt, there will never be enough to satisfy our thirst for what money can buy.

in reality all of the above are really just our emotional needs trying to be filled. we think if we have all of those things then that will make us happy. how's that working out for you? i do this all the time with myself and my children. am i teaching them that true happiness lies in a material object, or that true happiness only comes for the LORD? the answer would be that i'm not teaching them enough about GOD. all parents are guilty of this and we are doing a disservice to our children. our emotional needs can only be filled by GOD and our growth in faith. with reading the bible and growing in our wisdom of scripture we are fulfilling our true destinies and that is to have eternal life with our LORD JESUS CHRIST in heaven.

"and i saw that all labor and all acheivement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. this too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." ecclesiastes 4:4