Happiness: Your Whole Ambition to Be Like Jesus

By A. W. Tozer

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.  -- Romans 12:2

   The assumption that human beings are born "to be
happy" is scarcely questioned by anyone in today's
society and the effect of this modern hedonism is felt
also among the people of God.

   The Christian gospel is too often presented as a means
toward happiness, to peace of mind or security.
There are even those who use the Bible to "relax"
them, as if it were a drug.

   How far wrong all this is will be discovered easily by
the simple act of reading the New Testament through
once, with meditation. There the emphasis is not upon
happiness but upon holiness. God is more concerned
with the state of people's hearts than with the state of
their feelings.

   Undoubtedly the will of God brings final happiness to
those who obey, but the most important matter is not
how happy we are but how holy!

   The childish clamor after happiness can become a real
snare. One may easily deceive himself by cultivating a
religious joy without a correspondingly righteous life.

   For those who take this whole thing seriously I have a
suggestion: Go to God and have an understanding. Tell
Him that it is your desire to be holy at any cost and then
ask Him never to give you more happiness than
holiness! Be assured, that in the end you will be as happy
as you are holy; but for the time being, let your whole
ambition be to serve God and be Christlike!

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Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.