powerful beyond our comprehension. God’ s character does not always leave us feeling comfortable, but His truths will always move us toward greater godliness and peace.
A belief that many conscientious, loving parents hold is that“ good” parents make sure their kids are both happy and well-behaved. When I ask people what they want for their kids, most include these two characteristics at the top of their list. Certainly my wife, Monica, and I have always wanted our boys to be happy and well-mannered. Both desires are normal and good as long as they are not elevated above our children having their own relationship with Jesus Christ.
“ God wants something far better for our children than merely the pursuit of happiness.”
Let’ s first consider whether the priority of happiness passes the truth-oriented filter. Have you ever noticed that the apostle Paul never mentions it as one of the signs that God is at work in our lives?
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Notice that joy makes the list, but happiness does not. Why? From a Christian standpoint, joy is God-centered. It comes from God and our relationship with Him, and it brings glory to Him. Unlike happiness, it is not dependent upon fulfilled desires or favorable circumstances.
If we are parenting our children to be spiritually strong, happiness cannot be our main priority; after all, teaching our children to dwell on what is true will not always make them happy. In fact, the more faithful they are to God, the more opposition they will face from others who are doing wrong. They will also experience discomfort when they stray from what they know is right.
God wants something far better for our children than merely the pursuit of happiness. Could it be that service, sacrifice, and honoring Him bring greater and more enduring blessings?
Focusing on this truth enables us to build our spiritual house upon solid rock rather than shifting sand:
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded
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