{"id":380,"date":"2010-10-21T08:06:00","date_gmt":"2010-10-21T14:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.195.124.95\/~redletu4\/we-dont-have-a-right-to-happiness-but-a-life-well-lived-will-get-us-there\/"},"modified":"2010-10-21T08:06:00","modified_gmt":"2010-10-21T14:06:00","slug":"we-dont-have-a-right-to-happiness-but-a-life-well-lived-will-get-us-there","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/we-dont-have-a-right-to-happiness-but-a-life-well-lived-will-get-us-there\/","title":{"rendered":"We don’t have a “right” to happiness, but a life well-lived will get us there"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
<\/span><\/div>\n
Today, Bonnie Gray over at<\/span> Faith Barista <\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>posed this\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
question<\/span><\/span> for her ongoing blogging jam on faith: How does your faith connect to your happiness?<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I must confess that I have aversion to the term, \u201cpursuit of happiness\u201d\u00a0and I bristle when people use it to justify their behavior.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Happiness, although thrown into the Bill of Rights by Thomas Jefferson, is not really a Christian imperative. We act like it is \u2013 using it as an excuse to leave a spouse, to buy unnecessary possessions,or to gorge ourselves at the buffet line of life. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I am a happy person \u2013 and I consider my outlook to be positive. It\u2019s my faith that sets the table for happiness. But to pursue happiness creates all kinds of ugly situations. Read Malcom Muggeridge\u2019s thoughts on this:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\u201cOf all the different purposes set before mankind, the most disastrous is surely \u201cthe pursuit of happiness,\u201d slipped into the American Declaration of Independence along with \u201clife and liberty\u201d as an unalienable right, almost accidentally, at the last moment. Happiness is like a young deer, fleet and beautiful. Hunt him, and he becomes a poor frantic quarry; after the kill, a piece of stinking flesh.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/div>\n
The pursuit of happiness has morphed into the pursuit of money. Recently, Princeton researchers\u00a0issued a <\/span>report<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that the magic \u2018elixer\u2019 of compensation was $75,000. Earn less than that, and you\u2019re not happy. Earn more than that, and you have the potential to be a happier person.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
This is why we see people doing ugly things to get promoted, to get ahead. That\u2019s why the meanest and ugliest rats win the race. That\u2019s why we have corruption and greed and shenanigans going on in business.\n

Jesus calls us to a different kind of pursuit \u2014 joy.<\/p>\n

Joy is found not in pampering our soul, but pleasing our Creator. God isn\u2019t impressed with our money, with our titles, with our fame. He looks at our heart, at our character, at our souls. The pursuit of happiness is trumped by the quest for joy.<\/p><\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
What do you think about happiness? Is it a right? What do you do to \u201cget happy?\u201d What part does money play into your happiness? I\u2019m really interested in your comments.<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Read Bonnie Gray\u2019s Post <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>, \u201cThe Terrible letters we read \u2013 Why Faith is the choice for happiness\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

\u201cNow godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Please, share with a friend if you feel moved.
\nRead all past issues at http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, Bonnie Gray over at Faith Barista \u00a0posed this\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 question for her ongoing blogging jam on faith: How does your faith connect to your happiness? I must confess that I have aversion to the term, \u201cpursuit of happiness\u201d\u00a0and I bristle when people use it to justify their behavior. 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