What would it take to make you happy?

It’s a simple question.  Perhaps you are convinced that there’s a simple answer as well.  Maybe the words, “Well, if only I had … (fill in the blank) …” immediately come to mind.

The “path-to-happiness” possibilities are endless, of course, and differ significantly from person to person.  Some would claim a change in a relationship would do it.  Others a change in health or appearance.  Still others, a championship for their favorite team.  Many would lean toward material things – financial gain, the purchase of that one special item, or personal success.

Again, endless possibilities, and great variance between people’s designated key to contentment.  But almost everyone – if not everyone! – would be able to fill in that blank.

However, if others are like me, … (and I like to think that others are and I’m not singularly strange) … then that fill-in-the-blank-for-happiness-item has changed repeatedly over time!

In fact, the Lord in his abundant goodness has often filled in that blank for me with exactly what I was convinced would bring me lasting joy … and my joy didn’t last.  It wasn’t that I wasn’t appreciative.  Actually, every time the Lord provided me with what I thought I needed to be content, I was delighted.  And joyful.  And abundantly thankful! 

At least, for a while.  Then my “happiness blank” reappeared in my mind with something different inserted.

I’m not proud of this.  I’m even aware that I have done this repeatedly, and that until I get to heaven I will almost certainly continue to do this.  You can criticize me and castigate me if you want … and I don’t dispute I deserve it. 

However, I suspect that if you are honest, you will have to admit that you have done the same thing.  Also repeatedly.

What a wretched burden and disgusting encumbrance is our sinful nature!  To receive blessings upon blessings from our good God, and then so easily overlook or quickly dismiss them in favor of longing for something different or “better.”

The older I get the more I recognize this simple truth: the only answer placed in the “happiness blank” that truly delivers comprehensive and enduring joy is “Jesus.” 

“If only I have Jesus, I am and I will be happy.”  Not just in this life, but in the life to come.  In truth, when I have Jesus, I will be happy forever!  Jesus loves me.  He lived for me, died for me, and lives again for me.  And for you too! 

Jesus fills our greatest needs, (love! acceptance! forgiveness! peace with God! salvation!), and he fills those needs completely.  Nothing else in all of existence provides that kind of happiness jolt, nor carries that amount of lasting impact!

The Apostle Paul realized this, and expounds on this concept in his letter to the Philippians: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him [Jesus!] who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13).

And then a few verses later, Paul reiterates how God enables him to be content in all situations. “My God will meet all [our] needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

In other words, when we know Jesus our Savior, we are unimaginably rich!  Regardless of whatever else we have or don’t have, when we have Christ, we literally have everything we could want or need … despite our sinful natures’ arguments to the contrary.

Some may accuse me of being overly simplistic, but I would argue that ultimately – no matter how long (or short) we live or what we all have (or don’t have) – when God calls us out of this world, only one thing matters: Jesus.  An eternity of joy depends on our relationship with Jesus.

And knowing an eternity of happiness awaits us because of what Jesus has done for us makes life in this world a whole lot happier as well.  So inserting Jesus into the happiness blank really is the best (and only!) answer.  Everything else that the Lord gives us is just a bonus.

What would it take to make us happy?  The answer is simple but profound – “Just Jesus.”  It’s not the answer we typically look for, but it’s the only One that truly works.

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(1 Timothy 6:6-8) — But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Hebrews 13:5 — Keep your lives free from the love of [earthly things] and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you;  never will I forsake you.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 — So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.