I think I always knew this. About 25 years ago I decided that most Television was pretty much a waste of time. Since then my viewing is limited to news and sports. (24 doesn’t count because Jack Bauer sent me a message and said, “watch!” You had better do what Jack Bauer says.)
A recent study of the activities of happy people collected data from the last 34 years on social activity and media usage. What do happy people do? Well, they read, they socialize, and they go to church.
What is surprising is what happy people do not do. In the study it was determined that out of 10 activities happy people were more active in all but three. Those three were socializing at a bar, surfing the internet, and watching TV. What the study does not tell us is if those three activities contribute to our unhappiness or if they are the refuge of unhappy people.
Robinson, John P. and Martin, Stephen, What Do Happy People Do? Social Indicators Research, Vol 89: Issue 3, 12/01/2008, p. 565
So if you want to be happy, why are you surfing the blogs? Happy people are those who are serving not surfing, interacting with other people not the remote control. God did not create us to be hermits, but to make a difference in the lives of others. Countless times in the New Testament, believers are called to participate in the lives of others. Paul tells us to “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB95).”
Now, turn off this computer and go visit a friend. Only if it is after 9:30 don’t come over here, we are trying to be happy and happy people get plenty of sleep.
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3 comments:
Good post Rodger, wait a minute; if I leave a comment then you'll know that I'm reading your blog and not very happy... This is what I do at lunch time while I happily eat my peanut butter and jelly sandwich (was that on the list of what happy people do, eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? If not it should be, I've very happy right now.
Funny timing!
Today I was examining two very special sheets of notebook paper. They're a written record of my state of mind just before I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ in November 2007. I was "counting the cost", and it's on paper. Pastor Robert saw these papers.
One of the things I wrote was this: WHY should life be happy???
Jesus was showing me that I didn't know Him. He granted me the (nagging) awareness that I didn't want to "give up all my own possessions", and that I couldn't be His disciple. (Luke 14:33) I was in pursuit of being HAPPY--being comfortable, at ease, indulging the lusts of my flesh and eyes. I loved the things of the world, the things which are passing away. More and more, I was sensing the futility of it all, but resisting as hard as I could. I wasn't eager to pick up my cross and follow Him--not if I had to "lose my life" for Him. What if He denied me happiness?
Thank God for making me so hungry and so thirsty and so weary and heavy-laden with the futility of everything! Thank God I finally cried out "Lord, to Whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life!"
Happy?
Jesus wasn't lying when He said "whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it." THAT is a trustworthy statement! Praise to Him! What insanity to ever doubt Him. What complete self-destruction, to doubt God's word, ever.
Point taken, I'll go skiing.
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