What does your happiness depend on?

Do you admire the people who are more successful than you? Okay, let’s say it like it is: don’t you envy those people from time to time?

It seems like life is just easier for them. They get loans more easily at the bank, have contacts you only dream of, go on vacation to places you only know from your dreams….

All this is great, if God gives it to you. If GOD gives Himself with it, ONLY then is such a life really beautiful in the long term! 

King Solomon said: “This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 NIV)

A thankful heart is worth much to God!

We jump back to Habakkuk, with whom we are dealing this week. Habakkuk, who is so disappointed in the people who have absolutely no fear of God! They steal and cheat, destroy, are greedy and make fun of others. (See Habakkuk 1:7-11 NIV)

Doesn’t this sound familiar to you? Sadly, to this day, it has not changed. Here it says, “…guilty people, whose own strength is their god.” (Habakkuk 1:11 NIV)

And yes, when all is good, it’s easy to beam into a camera and say, “All this I built for myself.” When things are going well, it does your own ego a lot of good to pull up at the family gathering in your latest sled and see the admiring looks of others, “Look what I’ve accomplished.”

One thing you should write in your heart, rich or poor, successful or struggling:

Your happiness is not dependent on what you have, but on Who you have! Not from what you have worked for, but from the One who gave it to you!

“The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.” (Proverbs 3:33-34 NIV)

You are seen and loved! God is pleased when you give Him credit when things are going well, but you also have confidence in God when things are not going well. 

You are a miracle!