Principles for Happiness

If you think the Christian life is boring, then you haven’t yet learned how to walk with God. He will change your outlook on life. I think a Christian can look at a beautiful sunset and enjoy it more than anyone else, because the Bible says God has given us as Christians all things to richly enjoy. There is a deeper level of appreciation on our part. We can appreciate the simple things in life and find more pleasure and more fulfillment—not because we are looking to things, but because we are looking to God.

As Christians, we want to avoid the things that will hurt us spiritually. There are not only things that will build us up, but there are also things that will tear us down. When we start to do something, we should ask ourselves, Does this build me up spiritually?

The apostle Paul wrote, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Try this little litmus test: Does it bring you under its power? You don’t want to be under the power of anything but Jesus Christ. Do you have an uneasy conscience about it? As Romans 14:23 says, “Whatever is not from faith is sin.” Whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful.

The psalmist wrote, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1). That word “blessed” means, “oh, how happy.” So if you want to be a happy person, then follow the principles that are found in this psalm.