What does it take to make you happy? Some people are so easy to please, while others are never happy no matter what. How about you? Do you have to be doing something all the time to be happy or do you take life a little slower? Many people want to make it to the top instantly, while others enjoy the climb. Where you stand on these issues says a lot about who you are, calm, cool, and collected, or restless, hot tempered and impatient. The saying “haste makes waste” can be so true because when we do things on impulse and do not take the time to think things out or plan things then we can end up having to double back and this only causes us to go backward instead of forward. But when we stop, look, and listen, we not only gain knowledge, but knowledge can be power, so thinking things out and having a game plan can cause you to win. The Apostle Paul gave Timothy, who was in his upper teens, this advice in 1 Timothy 6:6-10, “ But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people 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.”
In 1965 a group called the Byrds sang a song called “Turn, Turn, Turn” which was taken from the words of King Solomon written in Ecclesiastes 3:1-13. It says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.”
More good advice from King Solomon says this in Proverbs 3:1-10, “Children, do not forget My teaching, but have your heart comply with My commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Take some consideration and thought to your life, and go to the source in which all happiness comes from, God our Eternal Father, and He will direct your path. You will find that it will keep you from going in circles and you will go forward and not backwards which will cause you to reach your goal sooner than later.