Focused on Others
Happiness is a subject that never seems to be out of fashion. Everyone wants to be happy and while we know there is a stark difference between happiness and joy—joy is unchanging and found in the Lord, while happiness shifts with emotions—the Bible does give us ways in which we can be happy in our lives. Not surprisingly, these methods of pursuing a life of happiness are also found in secular studies as well. Sonja Lyubomirsky found in her book, The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want, that “modern happiness studies demonstrate that wealth, success, power, and popularity are not indicators of happiness. People who choose gratitude and engage in respectful, others-centered relationships are happier than those who are self-focused and driven by feelings of entitlement.” The Bible would agree.
“It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.” (Hebrews 11:24-26)
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
A recent Gallup poll found only about one-third of us say we're satisfied with our lives — an all time low. The National Institute for Mental Health estimates that in the past year, “21.0 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode.” There is a direct correlation between the continuing rise of social media, platforms that are designed to make the users focus on themselves, and the decline in happiness. The more we focus on ourselves and our wants and desires, the more we fuel this attitude that everything revolves around us, the less happy we become.
“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” (Romans 12:10)
“Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.” (1 Corinthians 10:24)
The social sciences prove the truth we find in the Bible: our lives are improved when we choose to focus on others rather than ourselves. If you find your happiness is low or that your mood is shifting quite a bit, take a step back and examine if you are spending most of your energy focused on yourself or others. Live a life of Biblical humility, don’t be selfish, be humble, think of others first, and look out for their good. We can be fueled by gratitude and focused on others.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
