Are You Happy and Content?

Most people think of the day they will be happy. That day for many is always in the future when certain plans have been fulfilled. Some live in the past before a certain thing happened and fail to see how situation can change for the best. Few ever think they could be happy where they are by taking each day at a time and living with the believe that life is a journey that takes us through terrains that prepare us for what lies ahead even when we don't see how it might be achieved by trusting in the God who makes a way even where there is no way, for He is the Way the Truth and the Life.

Because of Social Media, people are exposed to many possibilities that create desires our ancestors never thought possible. As a result, many seem to want more and more as the eyes are never satisfied. The sad aspect is that what many of us desire, are out of reach causing the heart to spin out of control into sadness and depression.

One who is single wants a partner without spending time in prayer for God's guidance, and the one married views a picture of a married couple and suddenly feels unhappy because the picture creates a desire for intimacy, while the childless couple sees a family with children and despises theirs.

Just because a husband and wife had a disagreement one day does not call for an end to the marriage. There are options such as adoption for the childless couple to love and bring up children for God just as He has adopted us into His family.

#What does the Bible say?

One of the instructions that God gave to Moses, Exodus 20:17, we were warned not to covet what belongs to another. The danger of coveting or desiring what another has is that it leads down a path of dissatisfaction. No amount will ever do, because the more we have, the more we want. The single person who thought the answer to happiness was in getting married soon discovers issues that never existed surface and the happiness that was craved by rushing into marriage, not patiently waiting on God for guidance turns into a nightmare.

Proverbs 18:22, says, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the LORD." [KJV.]

Most people just end with the finding of the wife but forget the hard work that is needed to put the relationship in that place of receiving God's favour. Being faithful to the wife of your youth as the Bible says, and loving her as Christ loves His church is where there is a blessing.

The other part that is often not spoken of is that whoever finds a husband also finds a good thing. Therefore, respect for the decision made for the sake of the welfare of the children who later come along ensuring their happiness is the responsibility of the parents. Once two people come together, they can no longer afford to be selfish or be self-seeking. Time is needed to teach and show the children by example what is right; how they should shun evil by the parent's lifestyle.

The world is a complex place that requires time and effort if we are to help young people succeed in finding contentment in a materialistic world.

#Does the Bible enforce marriage?

In 1Corinthians 7:7, Paul the apostle said he wished all people were single as he was, because a single believer's focus is Christ. This is a subject that many find hard to dig their teeth into because a life of singleness requires daily discipline. Not everyone can stay single as it is only by the help of the Holy Spirit that we are able to remain fulfilled without resulting to sexual immorality. Discontentment strikes the married and the unmarried alike. It is a problem of the heart. The state of the heart will drive a person to commit what they once thought unthinkable because of the failure to put a guard against the heart by covenanting with God with our eyes.

In Job 31:1, Job a man who lived a sinless life said, "I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?"

Job made the statement as his friends did everything to convince him that his suffering was as a result of sin in his life. But Job knew the pitfalls that humans were likely to fall into and took steps at an early stage in his life to prevent himself from falling into the trap.

Sadly, Solomon on the other hand, the wisest man that ever lived even with all the warnings and instructions sold out by marrying one thousand women; 700 wives and 300 concubines. He showed that people are never satisfied with what they have, husband, wife or money and that wisdom is no guarantee for contentment but the fear of God helped by the power of the Holy Spirit that resides in one who believes in Jesus.

We soon neglect our responsibility to those close and dear to us because our hearts become overtaken by the evil desires that the heart craves.

As a Christ follower, I am often surprised that the Bible had no record of Lazarus, Mary and Martha being married and that Jesus who was said to frequent their home never raised the subject. He seemed to be more interested in helping them meet every day issues of life.

Even in the Old Testament, most of the prophets are not recorded as married. Hosea, however, was asked by God to marry an adulterous woman as He wanted to use that relationship as a sign and means for teaching people of God's love for the unfaithful.

We have allowed worldly values to sow destructive seeds in people's hearts. As a result, no matter how hard we try are never content or satisfied and it leads to family conflicts and unhappiness. The world says if not married at a certain age, you don't matter or if your husband or wife doesn't do this or that, the relationship is not worth having. Living by what the world expects, many rush into decisions that become regrettable.

It is important to refocus on having a sound mind by seeking the benefits of a healthy happy life, loving as God calls us to do, without attaching any agenda to relationships and avoiding the pressure to please others. We will never be completed by another, because our joy and peace is in letting Jesus define who we are, by giving us the power by His Holy Spirit of a new and holy life.