This afternoon, my family will sing “Happy Birthday” to three family members who have birthdays close together. We’ll enjoy being together, eating pizza and salad, opening gifts, and being amazed by the buzz of activity that occurs anytime our three kids, two spouses, one girlfriend, and five grandkids gather.
It will be a happy time, a blessed event. In the midst of it, assuredly, there will be a few moments of pouting because the four-year-old is being denied his third piece of cake, or the fifteen-year-old is told to put his third bottle of soda pop back and get a glass of water. The four-year-old may drop his chin and stare at the floor in protest of the denial, but the fifteen-year-old will engage his mom in debate with the question “Why?”, and further statements of the wrongful parental mandate.
And then two minutes later it will be forgotten.
Thus, the unrealistic expectation of happiness. Happiness is now something we have come to believe we are entitled to. Let me clarify. Happiness is “getting what I want,” no matter the effect it may have on others or the consequences it may have on myself. Happiness is about the moment, about my immediate desire, and, most of all, happiness is often in a battle with health…spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental.
The Apostle Paul had a few things to say about “happiness at the expense of others.” He has some heated words in 1 Corinthians 11 about the selfish actions of some of the attendees at the gathering, which usually included some kind of meal and the observance of the breaking of bread and drinking from the cup in remembrance of Jesus. The offenders were thinking only of themselves and happiness at the expense of others. Some people worship happiness at the risk of future peril.
When happiness becomes our narrative, things like “discipline,” “order,” “practice, “wise planning and actions,” and “what is just and right” get pushed to the back. Thank God, Jesus’ goal was not to be happy. If it was, He never would have gone to the cross for us.
Overseeing a four-year-old’s constant seeking happiness in each moment is one thing, but when adults have that mindset for their lives, it creates incredible and often ridiculous conflict. It can be seen in schools where students cringe at learning math concepts because it interferes with their screen time. It can be seen in churches where the wisdom of the church leader is questioned because it interferes with what some of the people want. It can be seen in a child’s relationship with his parents when he seeks fulfillment in the moment and they’re unyielding. It can be seen in a player’s displeasure with his coach because he doesn’t get the playing time he wants. And it can be seen in a mentoree’s disgruntlement with his mentor, who sees the future consequences if wants in the present are yielded to.
There’s nothing wrong with being happy, but for many people it is the sole platform to stand on. In the disorder of our times, it blurs the mission and purpose of our lives.
Words from WW Blog 