Unhappiness isn't Necessarily Godly

Today's entry in The Purpose-Driven Life talks about the fact that life is a temporary assignment. We are here for a short time, relative to the eternity that we will spend with God and we should set our eyes on the eternal things and not be concerned with the things of this world. In fact, because our real citizenship is in heaven, we are supposed to remain somewhat unhappy and unfulfilled here.

I understand what Rick Warren is saying, but I have some problems with it, as well. This kind of thinking has been used to justify all kinds of horrible things. Yes, you're a slave in this world, but it's okay. You'll be with God in the next, so to out and harvest my stuff, you worthless serf!

In fairness, Rick Warren isn't justifying slavery, but I can cherry pick scripture just as easy has Warren does. Paul said in Philipians that he had learned to be content in any situation. Psalm 118 says that this is the day the Lord has made and that we should rejoice and be glad in it. That's not the same as saying that we're supposed to be happy and unfulfilled. One of the best things that you can wish someone is peace, an internal peace that transcends all understanding.

Now, for this guy to come and cherry pick Scripture and say that we're supposed to be at least somewhat unhappy is very harmful. If nothing else, it allows people whose unhappiness is self-inflicted a rationalization that's not easily countered. I'm unhappy because God wants me to be, because I'm getting ready for heaven.

Bunk. You're unhappy because of your own reactions. Or because you're in a situation that makes you unhappy and you've chosen not remedy that situation. Sometimes good reasons exist for that, but often it's a result of fear, complacency, or just plain laziness, none of which is noble. There's a huge difference between saying "Life is hard and you need to accept that fact" and saying "Life is hard and you're supposed to be at least a little unhappy or you aren't focusing on God wants."

The key to life isn't happiness. And the key to happiness isn't a single-minded pursuit of it. The key to both is to figure out what you stand for, and then standing for it.