Three needs.

"Happiness, happiness, the greatest gift that I possess. I thank the Lord that I've been blessed with more than my share of happiness." sung the late Ken Dodd.

Someone has claimed that there are three things that a person needs in order to be happy! These are:

1. Something to do - some meaningful work, or some way of helping others;

2. Someone to love - someone to whom we may give of ourselves, such as a spouse, a child, a friend;

3. Something to which we may look forward - perhaps a holiday, a visit from a loved one, improved health, the realisation of a dream.

It is probably true that these things may provide at least a temporary happiness. However, as we get older, and physically weaker, we may find it more difficult to do the things that we were able to do so easily when we were younger. As we get older, some family members and friends are no longer there. I know that more and more of the deaths of which I learn are of those who fit into those categories. As we get older, it can become more difficult to go on holiday; loved ones are no longer able to visit; our health tends to deteriorate; it is too late to realise any dream that has never been fulfilled.

However, lasting fulfilment may be found - in a relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Christ.

1. Something to do - if you are a disciple of Jesus, you have been been gifted through God the Holy Spirit to serve the Saviour by serving others in His Name. "... love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honour." (Rom 12:10).  We are also commanded to spread the Gospel message around the world. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matt 28:19-20).

2. Someone to love - We love God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit* - because He first loved us (I Jn.4:19). And, of course, we love others: "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God." (I John 4:7).

3. Something to which we may look forward - one day (perhaps sooner than many realise!) we who are His will be welcomed into the nearer presence of Father God, where we will enjoy eternity* with Him, in a place that has been especially prepared for us (John 14:2-3; Rev.21:3-4). We shall see the Lord Jesus and - wonder of wonders - we shall be like Him! (I John 3:2). Now all of that (and there is more!) is certainly something to which we may look forward!

For joy (which is,in fact, much better than mere happiness!) that does not depend on age or circumstances, Jesus, the Christ, is all that we need. I warmly commend Him to you.

* the Trinity, and eternity, are both dealt with in "Great Words of the Faith" (link above. Remember that ALL royalties now go directly to the bank account of Release International, in support of the Persecuted Church - as do those on my other two books.