Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – Seek to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you. (James Freeman Clarke, 19th century American theologian and author)

The U.S. Declaration of Independence suggests that among our rights is “the pursuit of happiness.” Sounds like happiness is something you have to go after, you have to do something, or go somewhere to find it. Clarke, suggests, however, that you don’t have to search for happiness; rather it will find you if you are pursuing the good of others.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share (1 Timothy 6:18)

STOP AND THINK – I am . . . convinced that the waste of life lies in the love we have not given, the powers we have not used, the selfish prudence that will risk nothing and which . . . misses happiness as well. (Mary Cholmondeley, 19th-20th century English novelist)

This writer points out that happiness may be missed, not so much because of the wrong we do, but because of the failure to do good. Self-protection and the fear of failure or rejection may prevent us from stepping out of our shell, taking a risk, venturing into an uncertain future. Thus, we not only fail to do good, but we also suffer the loss of a happy heart.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them (James 4:17).

STOP AND THINK – Happiness is quite simply good health and a bad memory. (Earnest Hemingway, 20th century American author and journalist)

We could probably agree that health and happiness often go together. Poor physical health can affect our emotional health, so we become despondent or even depressed, when we don’t feel well. Then, too, we may choose not to remember unhappy moments, thinking that will keep us in a brighter frame of mind. But does that really make us happy or healthy?

For they [God’s words] are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body (Proverbs 4:22).

STOP AND THINK – Happiness is not the pursuit of thrills or gratification of sensual desires. It is, instead, the pursuit of virtue. (Chuck Colson, former presidential advisor, cultural commentator, and prison reformer)

People seem to be motivated more by their appetites than by moral character. Whether it is gluttony, sex, drug addiction, or another out-of-bounds desire, restraint is thrown to the wind in order to gain self-satisfaction. All too often, instant gratification trumps patience and moderation.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable . . .think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

STOP AND THINK – The strength and happiness of a man consists in finding out the way in which God is going, and going that way too. (Henry Ward Beecher, 19th century American clergyman and reformer)

Apparently, there is a spiritual aspect to happiness. According to Beecher, it can’t be found in secular pursuits or purely physical or temporal endeavors. Instead, it is to be discovered by striving to understand the ways and will of God and giving oneself to their pursuit.

Therefore, I urge you . . . to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. . . Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2).

STOP AND THINK – Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed. (Storm Jameson, 20th century English journalist)

Someone, indeed, may find happiness in any one of Jameson’s elements. However, many have found that happiness is a temporary, maybe even illusory, emotion. It doesn’t last long, and it is dependent upon circumstances, events, or even other people. It is much better to seek joy, which comes, not from outward circumstances, but inward contentment.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him (Romans 15:13)

STOP AND THINK – You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love. (Henry Drummond, 19th century Scottish evangelist)

The love Drummond spoke about is probably not the erotic or romantic love that saturates our modern culture. Such love on TV, in the movies, and in written media, brings only temporary, illusive satisfaction at best. But when we act toward others with biblical love, both the loved one and the one showing love find lasting satisfaction and joy.

Love never fails. . . . And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:8, 13)

STOP AND THINK – The farther you go…the harder it is to return. The world has many edges and it’s easy to fall off. (Anderson Cooper, American journalist and TV personality)

I’m not sure what Cooper may have had in mind when he made this statement, but it’s an axiom that may be applied in many circumstances. It’s a good warning to people who like to push the envelope, who want to see how close they can come to danger without being hurt. It’s a dangerous road, though, and you should not stretch too far into the unknown.

Therefore . . . be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. (2 Peter 3:17)

STOP AND THINK – To swear off making mistakes is very easy. All you have to do is swear off having ideas. (Leo Burnett, 20th century advertising executive)

Mistakes, unfortunately, are a part of life. No one lives without them. Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, said he had a 2,000 step process for success—2,000 failures before he found something that worked. Don’t be afraid of mistakes; exercise care, seek advice, and forge ahead in paths you know will ultimately lead to successful accomplishment.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)

STOP AND THINK – Almost all unhappiness in life comes from the tendency to blame someone else. (Brian Tracey, motivational speaker and author)

It started way back in the beginning. Adam’s excuse to God for his sin was, “The woman … she gave me …” And Eve said, “The serpent deceived me.” Not much has changed over these millennia has it? We’re still blaming others for our mistakes, but until we’re ready to take responsibility for our own actions and be accountable, we’ll never be happy.

Now we know . . . that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. (Romans 3:19)

STOP AND THINK – An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness. No reward coming after the event can compare with the sweet reward that went with it. (Maurice Maeterlinck, 19th and 20th century Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist)

Were you ever involved in an organization that required doing good deeds? Did you have a check-off list to complete? It gave a sense of relief, didn’t it? But it was really fulfilling—not because of the awards you may have received for doing your good deeds—but for the sense of worthy accomplishment. That was reward enough.

Live such good lives among the pagans that … they may see your good deeds and glorify God. (1 Peter 2:12)

STOP AND THINK – Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. (Berthold Auerbach, 19th century German-Jewish author and poet)

Music is surely a gift of God. Like every other gift, it can be used for good or misused. When it is performed well—whether vocally or instrumentally—it brings great satisfaction both to the performer(s) and the listener(s). The cares and concerns of life can be washed away quickly to the strains of music. And music can have an edifying spiritual effect, as well.

Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:16)