in the “Declaration of Independence.” No, I didn’t discover a typo, nor am I criticizing Thomas Jefferson’s orthography. (Though, I have to say he does include some questionable semicolons and capitalizations. Oh, and he did spell “British” with two t’s at one point.)
The mistake I found is actually located in the Declaration’s most iconic passage: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Did you catch the mistake?
Nowhere in the Bible does God promise human beings the inalienable right to pursue happiness. God never guarantees you the right to seek your own happiness.
He doesn’t. Look it up. Search your Bible.
Nowhere does God promise anyone that right.
Yet, we as Americans cling to that right with fervor. We passionately pursue happiness.
For a large portion of our population, happiness is their life’s primary pursuit.
Did you know that the word “happy” comes from the same root as our English word “happen”? For many people in our world today, happiness is the result of what happens to you.
Simply put, when good things happen to you, it makes you happy.
Our pursuit of happiness, therefore, is a pursuit of the things we think will make us happy. “If only I win the lottery or get this new job or find the woman of my dreams, then I will be truly happy.”
The truth, however, is that none of those things can make you happy. Actually, nothing can make you happy.
Nobody can make you happy. For that matter, nobody can make you sad or angry either. You are the one who controls what you feel and how you respond to what happens to you.
When the Bible speaks about the joy of a Christian, it does so with disregard to a person’s outward circumstances.
The Apostle Paul wrote that he had learned “the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12).
The secret to true happiness isn’t getting what you want. It’s recognizing what you have in Jesus. Because Jesus lived and died for you, you are forgiven for every lousy thing you’ve ever done. Because God forgives you, you are going to live one day in heaven, where you will be happier than you could ever imagine here on earth.
In heaven, the only problem you will have is your cheeks hurting from smiling so much.
And even now, God also promises to be by your side every moment of every day. He promises to provide everything you need for your body and soul. He promises to make everything, even the pains and problems of this world, work out for your good.
Knowing that, we can smile even as the tears of pain roll down our cheeks. Knowing that, we can choose happiness even when tragedy surrounds us.
I know it’s not easy. God doesn’t expect you to jump up and down for joy when you are in the middle of pain or loss.
But, knowing and trusting in God’s promises, you can be at peace. You can be content regardless of what happens to you or around you.
In the end, the pursuit of happiness is a fool’s errand. Pursuing the things that you think will make you happy can never bring lasting happiness.
So don’t pursue happiness. Pursue godliness. Trust God’s promises.
And in Christ, receive the joy he gives.
Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas.
You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon.com.
