FINDING HAPPINESS in the service of God
What can we say? The Lord has been merciful to us; he has desired to see us walk the earth in 2016, and that is the reason you are reading this. Happy New Year friends!But what did you do to deserve another day? Another week, another month and another year? Why did so many people, good and not so good people, not get to this day? Some were too close to seeing this year but they died on the last hour of 2015, but you! You are reading this in the Year of the Lord 2016. Is it something you did to deserve it?
Well, I know you know the answer to that question, don’t you? But I will tell you something; you can make this year so productive in the eyes of God – the giver of days and life – that it looks like you deserved the year.
Among the many New Year resolutions you have already outlined, what about adding dedicating this year to the service of God? What about you saying, “For the remainder of my life I will honour and serve God?”
I have – in the life I’ve lived – seen very educated people who are unhappy and rich people with bank accounts overflowing with cash but who are discontented with life. We think they have it all together when we look at their finely cut suits and grand limos, but that’s just the outside, deep inside they bleed. Their families are in disarray, their relationships stink and their money helps no one else, but themselves.
But I have also seen or heard about people who barely make ends meet; who struggle to educate their children and whose bank accounts often have the mandatory Ksh 500 that they cannot withdraw. Some even have no bank accounts. But they are happy. They live full lives and they can’t wish for another life. Their happiness comes in serving God; that’s how they honour Him.
Someone wrote: “There is only one purpose in life, which is happiness. We attain happiness by serving others with love and kindness.”
This, brothers and sisters, is what I wish for you. That you find your true self by losing yourself in the service of others as Mahatma Gandhi would say. You might have had a hopeless existence last year; your plans might have crumbled before your eyes and you might have faced rejection and ridicule; but you can redeem yourself by getting out of your way to put a smile on another person’s face. For when you give, when you show love, you forget your own needs and place them in God. It’s like you are telling God, “I am taking care of my brother, I have no time for my own needs so God, take care of that.” And He surely will.
See what Malachi 3:17-18 says about those who serve God: “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.”
I implore you who are reading this to make this the year one that you establish a close relationship with God. Money won’t solve all your problems, your drinking buddies can’t be there for you in your worst moments, but God can. Give him this one year and he will give you everything you desire in this world, which is good. Live for God by giving the needy, spending time with those who don’t deserve it, talking kind words to those who have squandered their lives in drink, drugs and promiscuity. Serve God by waking up every day determined to serve others. That way you will make God happy, and you will be happy in return.
It is not going to be easy to get out there; but the easy life has not given you the fulfilment you seek. Therefore take the narrow path; cut off friendships that intoxicate you; stop splashing all your money on alcohol and fun and dedicate some of it to the service of God. You will enjoy the rest of your life. Trust me.
Once more, happy New Year!
Published in January 2015
