You Can Buy Happiness…
…but it’s going to cost you.
Happiness can be bought, but happiness due to the gathering and collecting of material objects never lasts. Purchasing happiness is not a–one time, get all, going out of business, clearance rack, happily ever after–acquisition. Procuring happiness requires the investor to continuously return to his place of investment and buy more, more, more and more. The attempt to buy happiness is a lifelong commitment to always be seeking out that which will bring the next great, emotional high, and the problem with emotional highs such as happiness is that they come and go, shine and fade, wax and wane. Happiness is here today and gone tomorrow; it is an emotion, and, like any other emotion, is not nearly reliable enough to sustain or center our lives around. The issue with pursuing the emotion of happiness through the acquisition of things is that the pursuit completely focuses all of our attention and energy and vision on to our personal attempt to satisfy our own insatiable longing to live a life of inner happiness.
The pursuit of happiness by way of obtaining more new things is frivolous, haphazard, flippant and completely irresponsible, yet it is a pursuit which the majority of us engage in on a monthly, weekly, and even daily basis. We live our lives as though new acquisitions are a natural part of our lives, as though we deserve them or need them in order to get by. There is a deeply ingrained doctrine within the lives of most Americans that attempts to justify over-consumption as a right of life. We have somehow come to a point where we subconsciously believe that some people are better than other people because they have more things, more money, more food, more cars, more vacations, more stuff. We rank entire people groups, communities, and countries based on what kind of outward lifestyles they are able to live instead of their inner most character, values, and faith. We judge people not on the merit of how they love other people but on where they eat their meals, what brand of clothes they wear, what type of laptop they work on, what type of phone they talk on, what neighborhood they live in, where they went to college, what kind of coffee they drink, or how many dollars they have in their bank account. We believe that the amount you are able to consume is a direct measure of how important you are to the world. The more you can own and consume, the greater value you are to society, the higher you should be ranked within your community of people. We have duped ourselves into believing the lie that happiness is found through consumption because the more we own and consume the more highly other people will think of us. How selfish we are. How self-centered and trivial our greedy pursuits are.
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, ‘You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor’–well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? Listen to me…hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! –James 2: 1-6
There is a vast difference between happiness and satisfaction. Most of us try to form some kind of mix between the two, hoping that the answer to all of our questions lies in the combination: When happy then I am satisfied; I am most satisfied when I am happy; if I were only happy, I would be fully satisfied; I’m not satisfied because I’m never happy any more. If you are seeking satisfaction through happiness than you will never be satisfied. Happiness will never truly have an impactful, lasting effect on your level of satisfaction. Happiness comes and goes with the wind, but satisfaction–being truly content and filled with joy everlasting–will never fade, never be taken from you, never blow away.
Journeying toward happiness by way of the path of consumerism will never lead us to genuine, heart-felt, life changing, joy. We will never be satisfied if we believe that the temporary happiness that comes from the acquisition of new things is what is most important and worthy of pursuit. Journeyman Shane Claiborne says, “The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away. We have no right to have more than we need when others have nothing.” We each get one life to live, and we all have some decisions to make. Will we live our lives for the pursuit of more in attempt to be constantly happy, or will we live lives of service in response to and in leiu of our faith, in willing sacrifice for the love of others? One path is characterized by the ups and downs of consumerism, emotion, and never having enough of the right things in our desperate trying to be forever happy. The other path leads toward satisfaction, peace regardless of what we own, and a life lived to humbly serve Christ and love others.
Choose wisely.
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Since reading “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger”, a lot of these same types of thoughts and feelings have bounced around in my head. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’d be hung up from a lamp post by the mobs, I’d almost say my love of capitalism has waned some.
Don’t worry Andrew, I’m willing to hang with you.
Great post, Parke. The message of consumerism is so strong in our culture that we have to fight it on an almost daily basis. Otherwise, we get to a point in life where we’re saying things like “Yeah, I wish I hadn’t bought this big house” and become regretful for our missed opportunities to give and be selfless with our possessions.
@Andrew It looks like you have some people willing to hang with you. I would be interested in discussing some of your capitalist ideals and what kind of issues you are discovering as you dig more deeply into books like “Rich Christians…” and what kind of responses you’re running into from those around you who apparently would not approve.
@Ryan This is a big part of the consumerist issue. Once you start over-consuming, it’s extremely difficult to stop. The search for more is never ending, and many times people who eventually want to change from a lifestyle of consumption can’t due to being in too deep, whether in debt or just stuff in general.
Great insights guys! Thanks for contributing.
We have to be careful about what we pursue to find satisfaction or happiness. Consumerism (aka materialism) is certainly not the answer. But neither is merely giving away everything to those who have not. This approach can seem selfless, but it is often rooted in the desire to find joy in self sacrifice. Giving a gift to my wife because I want to find personal happiness in the act is still selfish because the focus is on me instead of her. Let’s call both of these extremes what they really are: idolatry.
An idol is anything I attempt to find satisfaction in apart from God. That’s my concern with Claiborn. His words have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, but they are ultimately of no value outside of a personal relationship with Christ. I’m wary of any message which does not hold Jesus at its center because I firmly believe that our hearts will not find satisfaction anywhere else.
Also, I can’t reconcile Claiborn’s quote in your post with Jesus’ words about His kingdom in Matthew 25:14-30. Or what about Matthew 20:1-16? Is God not allowed to do what He would choose with what belongs to Him? My responsibility is to be obedient to Him. Now if He calls me to give all that I have to the poor (Matthew 19:16-30), then I will gladly do so because my life is about Him. We, like Paul, must learn to be content in plenty and in want. (Philippians 4:11-13). It’s amazing how people with much tend to reach out to people with needs when they both find their satisfaction in the person of Jesus.
Why can’t selling all of my possessions, or half of them like Zacchaeus, simply be a response to what Jesus has called us to? I actually already know that it’s going to bring me joy because, well, Jesus said it’s a good thing.
Another problem I have is the idea that the first two Matthew verses mentioned are to be universal truth for everyone (which I personally believe have zero to do with money), but Matt 19 which says to sell possessions and give the money to the poor is an “if He calls me to…”.
Also, I think Paul would vomit if he knew people were using those verses to promote the idea of “whether you’re rich or poor, just make sure you’re content.” I don’t think he’s even talking about money. His point is simply that he has found contentment even in want because Christ is his strength.
The truth is that the early church considered themselves in sin if one person had two coats and they knew someone that had none. If the early church knew of someone without food, they fasted until there was enough to go around. We’ve strayed far from that because we think it’s “ok” to keep and continue to purchase possessions.
@Ryan
+ Selling all of your possessions will bring you joy IF Jesus calls you to it. The joy is found in your obedience to Him. Again, this whole conversation must exist within the context of an authentic relationship with Christ.
+ Matthew 20 & 25 are within the context of God’s Kingdom. Notice the context clues at the beginning of each section: “For the kingdom of heaven is like…”. Again, it is about our relation to God and His Kingdom – a kingdom which I hope you’d agree is universal. Also, I hope you’d agree that God’s rule has some effect on your personal finances. So what I am saying is that I haven’t been able to reconcile the principles that Jesus tells us about God’s kingdom with the message that guys like Claiborn advocate.
+ What about Matthew 19? Jesus is addressing a specific rich young ruler (not universal). However, he does present a strong warning that “only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.” (v23) Now keep in mind the context. Jesus’ disciples lived in a Jewish culture where religious leaders were very wealthy and their lifestyle was viewed as the right way to live before God. That’s why when they heard Jesus’ warning the disciples were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Look at Jesus’ response in the next verse: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” It’s like the disciples are saying, “If these rich guys can’t buy themselves into heaven by their own self-righteous religion, then who is going to make it?” to which Jesus replies, “It’s impossible to get there on your own. Only through God is it possible.”
+ Before you feel the need to “vomit” because of a blog comment, let’s look at the context of Paul’s letter to the Philippians to make sure everyone is on the same page (taken from John Piper’s “Battling Unbelief”). [Paul] is writing to thank the church for their financial generosity to him. But Paul had been blistered with criticism more than once for having ulterior motives in his ministry – that he really wanted people’s money, not their salvation (see I Cor 9:4-18; 2 Cor 11:7-12; 12:14-18; 1 Thess 2:5, 9; Acts 20:33). So he is skittish about giving any impression that he is eager to get their money.
Clearly money is being used to communicate something deeper here. Paul says that the cause of his joy is their benefit, not his (vv 11-12). They are richer for their generosity, not just Paul (a truth I want to emphasize here so as to still underscore the importance of generous giving).
+ Let’s get to the bottom line: I agree that there is a problem in our culture. It is a disease called materialism which prevents many people (including wealthy Christians) from experiencing authentic satisfaction. The Bible calls this disease sin.
I disagree, however, with the prescribed medication that some teachers advocate for this sin. The call of Claiborn to give it away will not bring one any closer to spiritual health than the call of Olsteen to go get more of it (there, now I am an equal opportunity offender). The medication for this sin is to accept that Jesus died in our place (which is called faith). And faith leads us into an active and dynamic relationship with a risen Savior whereby we walk in obedience to Him – with contentment in plenty and in want.
Great conversation guys. Once again, I’m pretty sure I learned more from all the comments than from my original post. Thank you for joining the conversation and challenging me to grow and look more deeply.
This is an excellent topic, yet the more I ponder it, the more questions I have. Here’s what I know for sure: Jesus is worthy of our full pursuit. He desires that we seek him with all that we are and serve him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. I suppose how that pursuit plays out in each individual life is unique and special in accordance to what burdens and desires the Lord places upon them. I can’t expect everyone’s response to the gospel to be the same, and I certainly can’t read into the hearts of men. Only God can truly do that.
While I wrestle continuously with whether or not there is a balance in serving Christ and acquiring things, regardless of the inner motivation, I still believe that if we seek the Lord with all that we are, he will direct our paths. He will motivate our every word and action. He has a plan for us, and regardless of how that plays out, all we can do is trust that it’s perfectly timed and good to the core. As for everything else, I believe that the love of Jesus will always motivate its followers to do wild and irregular things. The love of Christ, when fully integrated and sought after, can do nothing but transform us. What that change looks like may be different for one in comparison to the other, but I do not believe it to be any less radically a part of God’s plan.
There are so many different facets to this conversation that it’s quite impossible to summarize or even come close to hashing it out to completion. I suppose that’s what’s so intriguing, challenging and awesome about the love of Jesus, it’s always asking us to go deeper into it, to surrender more of our own selves, and become more like the one who gives it away freely.
I’m with you guys. The call to follow Jesus should be radical, life-altering, and will look differently for each person. (Just like the example of the rich, young ruler who was called to give up everything and Zacchaeus who gave half of his wealth. Sorry to use the same example twice, but I love it.) Although, we do know a few ways it shouldn’t look, like a life of accumulating wealth and possessions. My desire is that we constantly compare our lives to the words and actions of Jesus and the early church in order to know if we are in fact answering the call to take up our cross and follow Him.
This conversation was exciting.
This conversation is a huge part of my life currently. Actually, it is my life currently! I am attempting to hash out with the Lord what genuine generosity looks like, and how it should be outwardly expressed throughout my life. My pursuit is in knowing Him more intimately, and following Him in everything I say and do. I long for a life that imitates Jesus in action, word, and heart, not because I idolize the acts of goodness and service which he did, but because His overwhelming grace and love in my life moves me to act and love others in ways that prior to may have seemed crazy.
Thanks for journeying with me. It seems as though we are all in this together, and I am so thankful to have wise council and friends like you all. I am happy to have learned so much from your input and conversations. I am really looking forward to pursuing Jesus together, as his church, and learning how to best love others.
This doesn’t have to be the end of the conversation, I’m simply stating my utmost thanks for your input up to this point.
Another example that comes to mind when reading this dicussion is when Jesus initially calls His disciples to drop their nets and follow him. I’ve always skimmed over this story until recently when I realized how difficult this may have actually been for them. Perhaps they were elite fishermen in this area and had a very profitable business going. Perhaps they had spent years acquiring the best equipment and staking out the best fishing spots in the region. For all we know they may have been the “Michael Jordan” of the fishing industry. Then, bam, all of the sudden they are called to leave everything behind and just go. By doing so they knew they would in essence be forfeiting everything they had acquired. What if it were me? Would I be willing to leave this fulfilling job that I love as a software developer and just go? Maybe. But I’m really good at it and have been very successful…there’s no way God is calling me to do something that I have no experience in or that I might be bad at, right?!?! :)
Now you could argue that Jesus was speaking to specific individuals and this isn’t a universal truth or whatever but the fact is that this happened. The important question is, “is it happening to you?”
Generosity is more than just a lack of materialism. And I’ll be honest it has been kicking my ass. To me it is the heart of the matter of following Jesus. I have a theory that is impossible to find a man that is living completely generously who doesn’t also exude every other “good” Christian quality in his life. It all flows together.
If you want a scary challenge, and I mean this sincerely, pray to God that he would test your generosity.
@Dan,
Thanks for your comment. I’m with you on this. I believe it’s crucial to always be open to the Lord’s call for our lives. It seems as though one of the most important aspects of our relationship with Jesus is our willingness to do what he asks us to do, to be willing to potentially let everything go which we have been given and leave everything which we have come to know as normal. It seems as though God, throughout the Bible, used people who were willing to leave everything. The longer I live, the more I believe that God uses people, regardless of their societal position, who are completely dedicated to him. People completely surrendered to him. It doesn’t appear that God uses people who are luke warm in their faith, only half-hearted in their commitment to him.
Of course, the only way to know whether the Lord is calling us to be generous in one way or another is to have a deep, challenging, thriving relationship with him; to spend meaningful time with him meditating on his word, seeking his will for our lives with all that we are.
I am challenged to pray that God would test my generosity. What scares me more than the Lord actually calling me to be completely generous in ways that I never would have imagined, is never getting the opportunity to do so in the first place. It’s not the generosity that scares me, it’s missing the true calling of the Lord for my life that’s scary. However, I trust that if I continue to pursue Jesus, to surrender my own desires for the desires he has for me, He will provide for and lead me in ways that I never would have imagined.
I think the question you pose is centrally important. Are we willing to leave everything behind, to cut ties with everything that we hold as our own, to sacrifice everything in order to obey and follow Christ?
Wow, I am at lost for words. I was convicted throughout reading the blog post and the comments about what our motive is to be. The mentality to be exclusively self made in America is a rather falsity since we’ve all had help to get to where we are. Many of times I had battles with people about the Olsteen vs. Piper/Claiborn rhetorics about what has God called us to do. I guess my initial mentality takes me back to the 10 -5-1 rule as it relates to the parable of the talents. I mean with much is given much is also required. The main pitfall that we have to be worried about which Josh already mentioned is the pride factor.
I honestly think that many go into their place where God has or had called us to do with major expectations and honest motives. But with anything we need to watch and guard our hearts on why we do it our motives may be because we love the people and we love to make an impact, but it also could be because we love how it made us feel and how people look up to us. Its almost as if we should be anonymous in our doing, but we can’t be since if we’re staying in the background we’re not in the front lines in the battlefields reaching out to those who are lost.
I think true love is a tough pill to swallow. And true giving is a tougher pill. Humanly, we are wired to expect something in return, whereas it may never happen. That’s the part that people get tripped out on, “well if they are not grateful, why should we bother why should we sacrifice our time money and passions to help out these people?”. Sounds familiar to the story of Christ and the 10 lepers doesn’t it? Jesus knew that only 1 leper would come back and thank Him when He healed them. So why did he call the other 9 out? Not so much because He was disappointed and confused, but to make a point to the 12 disciples. Reaching souls doesn’t necessarily lead to notoriety so if that is your main motive in doing it, you will be sorely mistaken and disappointed.