God Just Wants Me to Be Happy

I would say that for most people, when we sin against God it's primarily in areas that we don't fully understand why He has permitted or restricted us. It's in places where we don't really see what damage it is doing when we don't obey Him. So really, am I obeying in the rest of the areas, or am I merely in agreement with Him in some areas. I mean, am I really obeying God, or am I, like much of the world, picking and choosing the things I believe to be important. Do I fully trust God? Do I trust enough to obey Him even when I don't understand? In fact, these are probably the most essential areas to obey Him; those in which we don't fully recognize the presented dangers. The illustration of a blacksmith making horseshoes is a powerful one. Though the sin may not be red hot with obvious consequence, God knows that our exposure to it will burn just as badly. Okay, so maybe I didn't state that as well as the original story, but the point is, God knows things that I don't. I must express my full confidence in the Lord by obeying Him, not only in areas that I see the consequence of sin, but also in areas that I don't. God wants me to succeed. He wants me to be happy.

Wow... yeah, I don't hear that enough. "I know God wants me to be happy and doing this makes me happy." What better excuse for sinful activity has been given? The fallacy of such an idea is that I actually know what'll make me happy. Oh yeah, I most certainly can find the things that give me pleasure, but God knows what'll make me happy. Actually, God knows what will give me joy. As one of my brothers so appropriately stated, "happiness" shares the same root as does "happening". Thus happiness is in direct correlation as to what is happening, whereas joy can surpass the current circumstance. Read Ecclesiastes and tell me that seeking your pleasures will give you joy. Good luck. Pursuit of happiness in ways that stand in opposition to God's will lead to anything but happiness. You will arrive at a cul-de-sac miserable and unfulfilled. This is God's way of showing us that we need to turn to Him.