The pursuit of happiness consumes our culture. For many folks finding happiness has become their ambition, their purpose for living. Businesses spend millions of dollars doing things to make employees happy. Corporations strive tirelessly to create a work environment that promotes happiness. Libraries and book stores stock millions of books and magazines to help readers overcome life’s obstacles and make readers happy. Every TV ad pitches products or services to convince viewers their products will make them happy.

“There’s nothing wrong with those who have a naturally sunny disposition or who enjoy the odd self-help book,” Svend Brinkmann, a a psychology professor at Denmark’s Aalborg University said. The problem, arises, he contends, when happiness becomes a requisite, that is, when we believe we MUST be happy.

But if you look to the Gospel to make you happy, you’ll be disappointed.  The Gospel is nothing to be happy about. You won’t find happiness in the Bible. What you will find throughout the Gospel is joy. Joy and happiness are worlds apart. Literally.

For instance,

• Happiness depends on circumstances
• Joy depends on our relationship with Christ
• Happiness is worldly
• Joy is eternal
• Happiness can vanish in one breath
• Joy never ends
• Happiness creates false hope
• Joy is full of hope
• Happiness requires work
• Joy only requires rest and surrender
• Happiness rots on the vine
• Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of God

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11