Are you happy?

My friends, are you happy now? If you are happy, good for you. But can you tell me, how long your happiness will last? Do you still remember when is the last time you laugh and feel so happy? What make you so happy?

Let me bring you what common in life. Do you still remember the time when you were studying in the school? You spent time gaining more knowledge, always been in the top rank, got medals or cups, etc. You were so happy at that time, life was simple, you just need to study and your parents provided everything you need. Nice, is it not?

Then you graduated from high school, you celebrated with your friends, you were so happy again, but it lasted only couple of days for you had to look for university. Some of you weren't accepted in the university you want, your happiness immediately change to sadness, some of you were happy even more since you were accepted and happiness continues.

There you studied for 3-4 years. You found your life in high school was much happier. You wished you can come back to that time, but you can't. You go on by struggling here and there with your academic, exams, lectures, etc. Then there you go, you graduated. "Wew", you thought, "finally I have graduated, I will no more face difficulty. I have overcome my problem". Finally, after facing life full of struggles you were happy again. But the question is: "Does your happiness this time last longer than when you graduated from high school?"

Your medals and cups have long forgotten and covered with dust. The more you study the more you see how little you are. Your knowledge about Physics, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Sosiology, History, etc just to some extend. You just can grasp in the surface for they are so deep. The more you study, the more you realize how tiny is your brain, you can't understand many things, can you?

Then you also see in the reality that your wisdom, your intellect is not everything. You have friends who are cleverer than you, but now you are a boss of great company, they still struggle with their career, or vice versa, you are a genius, always be in top rank, but now you stuggle with your life, and the friends that you always taught when you were students, now own a lot of things. Are you not chasing after the wind?

Or if you see reality more, David Beckham was paid $50 million per year, which mean $5700/ hour, what do you think about your income? To get $5700 every month is already good for you, is it not? When you spent time studying, he spent time playing football. When you having exams, he again playing football. Are you not cleverer than him? Or you think you are more good looking than Oprah, you can sing better than Britney Spears, you can act better than Paris Hilton, but still you are still stuck with your life.

Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

Life is full of problems, is it not? After finish studying, you need to find job. The competition is so high, the position offered just a few. You spent time looking for job. Some of us have to forget about our "dream job", "nice career path" for the reality is far beyond our dream. Some of us get the position we want, and happiness last longer. Some of us who already had job think, "This job is suck, it would be good if I can find another job" "I don't like the boss, I want to quit", etc. But, another question raised, "Are you sure you will be happier with your new job?" Some people who are optimistic said "Of course", then the reality again give us the answer. Another job, another junk.

You work more than others, you deny your eyes desired. You better watch your 14 inch TV instead of buying 42" plasma TV, you go work with your bicycle, you have no desire to travel around for it is expensive, etc. You just want to work and work, and save money but still the question is "what achievement you have done in your work?"

Ecclesiastes 2:10-1!

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Happiness has long gone from your life. After you get a job, you start to think about marriage and raising a family. You try to find a soulmate, sometimes your heart is broken, you were cheated, you were dumped, etc. And it comes to a time you marry your "soulmate".

Then you realized that your soulmate act differently. When you were not married, he was so gentle, so caring, so loving but now? He chose to watch football instead having a nice dinner with you, he chose to play with his friends instead be at home with you, bla..bla..bla..Your happiness gone.

Or your wife was so beautiful, so hot, so adorable, but now? She failed to keep her body form, she start having fat, she is busy with the children and sometimes you feel abandoned by her. She like to go gossiping with her neighbours, buy a lot of things, spend your money, etc. Your "glass house", your "dream" scatter into pieces. Then if you see your neighbour, they have a good life, good family, good quality of relationship, but why you don't? You will think it would be better to die, and much better if you never been born. "May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, 'A boy is born! (Job 3:3)'

Ecclesiastes 4:2-4

And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Your children start to grow. They need to go to school, to buy clothes, to have proper nutritions, etc. All your income just enough, or sometimes less than enough. You start thinking to look for a better job, some of you found it, but once you were there, you can't be settled again, you want to quit again. And those who can't find better job, decide to work more, and become workaholic, then the health problem start to come. You work for money and your money for your health and your health for you to work.

Now you are still young, you still can do a lot of things, but 5 years from now? Your body start depleting, white hairs start to blossom, wrinkles appears, your health is in bad condition, you can't work as young man anymore, your children have become a teenager, asking for computer, motorcycle, study abroad, car, etc. Where the money come from? And how about your own pleasure? You earn just enough and the money goes just for school fee, household stuff, etc. Where is the money to buy plasma TV, to travel around, to buy good car, etc?

Or if you are rich enough and able to buy whatever you want. Still, health problem, family problem will occur. Because you work a lot for getting rich, you abandon your health, your wife, and your children. Your body want to rest, but you refuse. Your family can't take it anymore, you are just like a stranger for your wife and your children. Early in the morning, when everybody is still sleeping you go to your office and late at night, when everybody has slept, you just come back. You seldom see your family. Then they want to separate from you. In your old days, you will just walk with dogs and feel lonely, not wife, no children, but great wealth. It is worthy?

Ecclesiastes 2:17

I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless— a miserable business! (Ecclesiastes 4:8)

• Being born, being a child, grow and become teenager, mature, old and die.
• Being born, going to school, going to university, working, raising family, spending old time, waiting for death to come.

You want to die, but you afraid of dying for the judgment await you. Are you tired of this life, my friends? Do you want to know the answer for all of your problems and troubles? The solution is GOD. You need GOD. And to know who GOD is, you need to ask Jesus, to show you the Way, the Truth and the Life. You need Jesus, my friends.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Happiness comes from God, wisdom comes from God, knowledge comes from God. The secret to be happy lies in God, not in human wisdom. You can start to forget buying more personal development books, etc. Go and read your Bible. Finding satisfaction in all your toil is Gift of God (Ecclesiastes 3:13). Do you realize that?

God can give you wealth and possessions, and enable you to enjoy them, to accept your lot and be happy in your work. This is Gift of God (Ecclesiates 5:19). You should love your God more than you love your money. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs ( 1 Timothy 6:9-10).

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

Don't think that Britney Spears, David Beckham and those other people who live without God are happy, even though they "have" everything. They still lack something, they still lack being in love with God.

Do you want to know the secret of happiness? Listen to what Paul said, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:12-13).

My friends, you can be happy, even in this fallen world, in your miserable life. Jesus can change your circumstances, Jesus can change water to wine, Jesus can change you to new creation. Repent, ask His mercy and forgiveness, invite Him as King and Lord in your life. Follow and obey Him. He is Almighty God, the One who by His word the universe was created. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by Him. He has purpose in making you, He has called your name even when you are still in your mother's womb. The very hairs in your head are numbered, you are an apple of His eye, so precious, you are children of great King, but you refuse for a long time, in your ignorance to know Him, to restore your relationship with Him. He is your Father, He loves you, He wants to help you. Come to Him and be happy.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

When is the last time you smile like this little kid? Are you happy now? Go and find God. The secret of being happy is God's gift. God bless you. Praise the Lord.