Happiness

HAPPINESS
1 John 2:12-17
“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

“Oh, I want that bike!” Jesse groaned. He stared. The glimmering blue motorcycle sparkled like diamonds in his eyes. “How old do you have to be to buy this, Mr. MacKain?"

“Anyone can buy this bike, Jesse. But you have to be sixteen to get a license to drive it.”

Jesse was nearly ten, but couldn’t wait until he could drive a bike like that. He sighed and left. Kicking stones as he aimlessly walked didn’t satisfy his ache for that bike. He passed the practice baseball field where his friends were hunkered down underneath the bleachers. “Hey Jesse, come over here!”

Jesse sauntered to the 3 guys who were staring at a magazine. “What’s that?” he asked them. The closer he got, the better he saw their eyes glued to the open book. He saw a naked woman, smiling and posing on a chair. She was beautiful. Jesse whistled. His friends nodded appreciatively. One licked his lips.

“She’s mine!” Joe barked and tore the book away from their grip. He pressed it protectively to his chest. “I’ll bring it again tomorrow, if you want to come and drool over her then” he said, smiling smugly.

Cassie admired herself in every reflection. Her wardrobe consisted only of the most popular clothes, and she wore them all well. Her jealous friends pawned over her. She knew that her family was the richest in town, and enjoyed flaunting herself every day.

The apostle John loved his Savior, Jesus, more than anything else in the world. John’s love spilled over into Christ’s church (the congregation of believers) after Jesus ascended to Heaven. John’s passion became his mission to warn these beloved people about what’s fleeting and what lasts forever.

He never tired of talking to his flock about Jesus. One time, he spoke warnings about three lusts. The lust of the flesh is the insatiable appetite to indulge in pleasures that inflame the body—but never satisfy.

The lust of the eyes wander continually seeking riches. Their constant hunger demands more possessions, more stuff, more, more, more. This desire transmutes into greed that covets everybody’s stuff.

The lust of pride is a person’s vanity that thirsts for constant applause. This glory quickly evaporates.

Lustful desires tempt in many ways, but feeding them never satisfies. Happiness is never achieved.

Take Home Nugget

True happiness is found only when we seek eternal things—a relationship with our Creator, and His Son.

Can I have, can I have more?
Wandering eyes reach out and grab.
Let’s go shopping at the store!
Constant unhappiness makes me a crab.

J.D. Griffith

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Written for Bible Study for Kids.