Joy Is Simple

If I had a magic bag that I could produce anything you want to make you happy, what would it be? What could I pull out of this bag that would immediately make you happy?

How long would that happiness last for you after you received whatever it was that you received out of that bag?

Now, let me ask you this - what if you gave that thing away? What if you gave that thing away to someone who was in desperate need?

How would you feel?

The Modern World Makes Us Miserable

Advertisements have gotten really good at telling you what you need and what you deserve. I know, I write them for a living.

Anything you want to buy is going to make you bigger, stronger, faster, better, more handsome, more beautiful, or richer.

Did you know that the moment you have the most happiness about having something is the moment just before you get it? It’s a downward slope from there.

And how about social media? The chemical responses in our brain to approval on social media is almost as powerful as having sex.

I bet I have your attention now

So why are we, as a culture, so unhappy?

The Simple Answer

We have done everything we can to focus our lens on ourselves.

You cannot live a Jesus centered life when you focus on doing only for yourself. If you aren’t sure where The Bible says that, just look for anything printed in red.

Primarily Jesus told parables to illustrate his points to his disciples and followers to help them understand better. In one such story, he told about a wealthy young man who wanted to get into heaven.

The Rich Young Man

Matthew 19:16–30 LEB

And behold, someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do so that I will have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why are you asking me about what is good? There is one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments!” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “Do not commit murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and your mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the proceeds to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.” But when the young man heard the statement, he went away sorrowful, because he was one who had many possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I say to you that with difficulty a rich person will enter into the kingdom of heaven! And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich person into the kingdom of God.” So when the disciples heard this, they were extremely amazed, saying, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter answered and said to him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that in the renewal of the world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me—you also will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields on account of my name will receive a hundred times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Turn The Lens Around

The problem is not the wealth.

the problem is not the actions

The problem is not even will

the problem IS his self-centeredness. The young man thought he was able to ACTION himself into heaven

It was his heart that wasn’t right. It was focused inward and not towards others.

Matthew 25:40 LEB

And the king will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.’

Do For Others, Do For Me

When the guiding light for our actions and lives is to live in the model of Jesus, we strive to be our best. It’s not a checklist we need to accomplish, but a dedication of our lives.

This was the root of the problem for the rich young man - he wanted to check boxes, do what was required, then go back to the lifestyle he wanted to live. And because of that, the source of his distractions would have to be taken away.

there is no evil in money, talent, fame, possessions, or anything else - they are just tools that can be used to help walk in the path of Jesus, or to distract from it.

When your heart is set upon being a Jesus follower, every choice you make, every word spoken, and every action taken is done so through the lens of continuing Jesus’ ministry on earth.