Winston Salem church of Christ

Someone was recently given some money for Christmas.  At first they thought they would just put it in the account with the rest of the money to help pay bills.  They came across the opportunity to buy something with that money, but hesitated.  Their are always bills to be paid.  It was used, and a great price.  But there are always bills to be paid.  His wife asked, “Would it make you happy to buy it?”  The husband said, “Yes.”  She encouraged him to buy it.  He did.

Later, her question and his answer came back into his mind.  “Would buying this make you happy?”  He answered “Yes.”  Is that an appropriate question and answer?  Someone differentiated between joy and happiness saying that joy comes from the inside, and can be had even when we are not happy with life on the outside, such as our circumstances.  Joy is long-lasting, happiness comes and goes.  I like that distinction even if I am not sure it is a correct delineation.

However, the person who ended up buying what he wanted decided that “No, buying that will not make me happy.  I am already happy.  I do not need this to make me happy.  But I still like what I bought.  I am glad I bought it.  But buying and having it…no, I don’t need IT to make me happy.”