What's Worth It? Wk 3: Happiness/Suffering

If you had a choice between happiness and suffering, you’d probably choose happiness. Why? Because happiness is better than suffering. Of course. But here’s the thing: happiness is not the absence of suffering – it’s in choosing the right kind of suffering.

As Americans, we grow up with the Declaration of Independence idea that “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are “inalienable rights.” So we pursue happiness.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11. But getting what you want does not make you happy.

This seems to match recent articles on the futility of the pursuit of happiness.

-Stop trying to be happy at work
-Humans are not meant for happiness

There are six references to happiness in the Bible, but none of them are about the self-centered pursuit of it:

• Deuteronomy 24:5 A new husband should bring happiness to his wife.
• Esther 8:16 It was a time of happiness, joy, gladness, honor.
• Job 7:7 Job thought he’d never see happiness again.
• Ecclesiastes 2:26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, & happiness.
• Matthew 25:21-23 (2x) Share in your master’s happiness.

And if happiness is to be found in comfort, that too is a dead end.

Luke 6:20-26. Jesus didn’t place much value on comfort. V.24 is interesting – the idea that he rich “have already received their comfort.”

Matthew 6:2 mirrors this, with the idea that the Pharisees had already received their reward in full.

In short, the pursuit of happiness and comfort do not – by themselves – lead to happiness or long-term benefit.

What about suffering?

Suffering, by itself, is not very productive. Ecclesiastes 4:1-8 clears that up.

Consider the experience of Japanese Imperial Army 2nd Lt Hiroo Onoda (小野田寛郎). Even after World War II ended in 1945, he held out in the Philippines until 1974.

You’d think he’d be happy to return home, but he found (then) modern life to be unbearable, so he moved to Brazil in 1975. Why? Was Japan so much worse compared to 29 years of survival-level existence?

No, but what sustained Onoda from 1944 to 1974 was his belief that he was suffering for a noble cause. When he moved back to Japan, he’d lost that purpose in his life. That’s what made it worse.

Comfort and peace did not make Onoda happy. In fact, they can be added stress factors in your life, as Forbes list of “12 Reasons You’re not as Happy as You Should Be” points this out. (#8’s point about “Impressing” is good.) But suffering without purpose – a.k.a. “misery” – is just as bad.

1 Peter 4:12-19. Suffering is a normal thing in life. It’s not a sign that you did something wrong. But since you’re going to suffer from something anyway, why not suffer for a good cause?

Peter was on to something. Happiness is not worth it. Neither is suffering. But if, as in Romans 5:3 suffering produces perseverance, and Hebrews 12:11 perseverance in discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace, then we’re left with this:

Suffering for a worthwhile purpose is what leads to happiness.

Questions for discussion

1. What makes you happy? Is it lack of suffering/difficulty/frustrations?
2. What’s the greatest thing you’ve ever accomplished?
3. Did you suffer for it, and was it worth it?