As I read the Declaration of Independence, some self-evident truths stuck out. They consist of these: we are all equally created by God, we all are endowed with power by the creator, and we all have the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thinking about these self-evident truths, the latter seemed to stick out more in my mind – the pursuit of happiness. Thinking on these also caused me to be in agreeance with Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, with his added word “pursuit” in front of the word happiness. For a moment, let us dig into the word happiness and see what we can find.
- · As one examines the word happy, he will find it has two root words, “hap” and “y.”
- · Hap is the root word for happy, meaning luck or chance.
- · It’s the same root word as “perhaps.”
- · It’s something you may or may not receive.Many go throughout this life to pursue “happiness” trying to find fulfillment in anything and everything under the sun, as did King Solomon, only to find emptiness, misery, gloom, and doom. At the end of their search, they are worse than they
were when they began. Why is that? Why is happiness something one may or may not receive? Why do many get hurt in the pursuit of it all? The answer lies in this: many seek happiness in things other than God, and that’s why they never receive it. True happiness can only be found in Him. As we go throughout life, let us seek God, and we will truly be happy.Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.
Howard