MAN AND HAPPINESS

Happiness is the ultimate

end and purpose of

human existence

Aristotle

All human beings naturally desire

happiness

AMUSEMENT

These are the things that we thought would bring us fun and enjoyment.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3• I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with

pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

PLEASURE IS MEANINGLESS

ACCOMPLISHMENTThese are the things that we pursued, thinking they would bring us a sense of fulfilment or the feeling of

success.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-6

• 4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.

GREAT WORKS ARE MEANINGLESS

ACCUMULATIONThese are the things we gather for ourselves,

assuming they could fill our lives.

Ecclesiastes 2:7-11• 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born

in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

• 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve,everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

WEALTH IS MEANINGLESS

Verse 11 summarizes the tragedy of a life lived, pursuing the wrong focus.

IT IS MEANINGLESS. CHASING AFTER THE

WIND.

EVERYTHING WILL HAVE MEANING IF WE HAVE GOD IN OUR LIVES

CHRISTIAN

CHRIST IAN CHRIST

I Am Nothing

HOW DO WE FIND HAPPINESS?

MATTHEW 5

3 “Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5 Happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

MATTHEW 5

6 Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7 Happy are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.8 Happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

MATTHEW 5

9 Happy are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.10 Happy are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. you.

MATTHEW 5

11 “Happy are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Within each one of us there is a God-shaped vacuum

that only God can fill.

Blaise Pascal

FOCUS ON GOD

When we love God, we must be willing to love Him to the fullest of our being.

With all of our heart

That means love Him with all of our emotions. He is the supreme object of our emotional love. All objects become second place when compared to our love for God

With all of our soul

This area refers to our personal will. We love Him, not just emotionally; we wilfully decide to surrender our highest love to Him

With all of our mind

This suggest that we are willing to use our best intellectual capacities to know God.

With all of our strength

This also includes our physical abilities and energy to show our love for Him.

Does God deserve our lives? He who gave us, not only eternal life but everything we possess today

truly deserves our lives, our everything.

It is your greatest advantage to love the Lord with all of your heart, all your soul, all your

mind and all your strength.

Remember your greatest blessing in this life and the next is having God intimately

relating to you. May we all choose to love Him supremely.