Newkirk Church of Christ

Scott’s Thoughts

May 5, 2024

 

And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.” (Proverbs 8:32, ESV)

I listen to different people as they talk about their life, and they are seeking happiness. Is our happiness God’s goal for this life? Happiness is a very personal thing. What I call happiness might be pure boredom to you. Happiness is also fleeting and can change from day to day. Most of us have enough to be happy but we have listened to way too many commercials that tell us we NEED more. I have many things in the house that make me smile but the only value they have is to me or Ava. They will be nothing but junk to our children and grandchildren when we pass but we’re content with that because the full value is in our minds and that is enough.

Ava contributes to my happiness. I have been happily married for more than fifty-three years. That is not to say that I bring flowers to Ava every day, in fact that is something that I seldom think of doing. However, I do think it is part of my duty as a husband to contribute to her happiness. Some days I can do that best by leaving her alone while she is sewing, drawing, or studying.
If I’m happy at the end of the day, week, month, or year, I feel content. Content is another elusive word. It has a lot to do with happiness. Like happiness, contentment comes from inside. Why does Ava get contentment by sewing projects to give away? I believe it’s because she enjoys giving to others. She was thinking of them when she was sewing. It doesn’t seem to matter if she spends an hour or even ten on the project. The purpose is to let them know she values them highly and they will know that every time they look at that item. I enjoy the same feeling every time I make something for someone, or when I repair something for someone, or when I help someone find an answer to a Bible question. Reaching out to others gives us a sense of purpose and makes us feel useful.

But back to our question: does God want everyone to be happy? YES! Then why are we as a nation or world population not happy? Let’s go all the way back to the book of Beginnings (Genesis). When God created the world and all that is in our universe, He placed Adam and Eve in The Garden of Eden. They had everything they needed. It was the perfect life. He told them not to eat the fruit from this one tree or you will die. The serpent very slyly convinced them they needed the forbidden fruit. They listened to the wrong person and their perfect existence was destroyed. It’s the same today. Listening to the wrong person can cause us much unhappiness.

God wants us to make good choices and do what is good and right in God’s eyes. If we do God’s will, we’ll be happy and so will He.

“He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.” Proverbs 16:20 (KJV)

Thanks for listening and keep on shining.

—Scott

2020 Mission Trip to Kramatorsk, Ukraine

Day 1 & 2 | 10/12/20 | 10/13/20 | 10/14/20 10/16/20 | 10/17/20 | 10/18/20 | 10/18/20 10/19/20 | 10/20/20| 10/21/20 | 10/23/20  | 10/25/20 | Summary Report

 

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Living with Dragons

One day, in England, a “gentleman of the road” (we’d call him a hobo) stopped by a restaurant named “St. George and the Dragon.” He knocked at the back door and asked if he might have some leftovers to eat. A very stern lady looked the fellow in the eye and said: “I’ll not give you one crumb. You’re a fit fellow. Get yourself a job, you bum!” And then to punctuate her point, she slammed the door in the fellow’s face. The shabbily dressed fellow stood looking at the establishment’s sign for a moment and then knocked, again.

The door opened and the same stern lady asked in a hateful voice: “Well, what is it you want, now?”

“I was just wondering,” he said, “could I please talk to St. George, this time?”

Unfortunately, we all face “Dragons.” Sometimes we work for them. Sometimes they are relatives. But let’s face it, sometimes we are the dragons! (Not you, right?). So I look for a dragon slayer I can count on. It’s called love.

What makes the dragon in you appear? Petty problems, real or imagined slights, jealously, insults, someone cheats you? Do you really like yourself when the dragon appears? I know I don’t like it when it is me.

So let’s try this formula from the Bible:

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).

“… show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:2).

—Larry Fitzgerald
Woodlawn church of Christ
Abilene, TX