Is Happiness Inherited?

     I read an article recently in which a woman wrote that happiness is an inherited trait in people.  She said that since happiness is inherited, “Either you’re happy, or you’re not.”[1.  News & Record newspaper (Greensboro, NC), June 8, 2014, D3.]

     This woman believes there are “haves” and “have-nots” when it comes to happiness.  She believes that certain people inherit happiness – and the rest of us must do without it.  But the truth is, none of us inherits happiness.  The Early Christians taught that people’s natural condition is to be unhappy; that is, people’s natural condition is to be hateful, jealous, angry, and selfish.[2.  Paul wrote in Galatians 5:19-21, that the normal behavior of people’s sinful nature (people’s inborn nature) is, “… hatred … jealousy … rage … selfishness … and the like.”]

     On the other hand, the Early Christians were happy.  That’s why Christianity spread worldwide in the First Century.  Nearly 100 times in their letters, the Early Christians wrote about being “blessed.”  And in their language, the word “blessed” can be translated as happy.

     For example, when Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” He was actually saying, “Happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.[3.  Adapted from Matthew 5:8.]

     But of course the problem is:  Where do “pure hearts” come from?  The Early Christians taught that pure hearts come from the inner motivation of the Holy Spirit in Christians,[4.  Adapted from Galatians 5:22-23.] and that is the key to being happy.

     So humans aren’t naturally happy.  But happiness is possible if a person is a Christian – because Christians can be happy to the extent that they’re being motivated by the Holy Spirit.  That means being motivated by the Spirit is a habit all Christians should form.  It’s the only path to true happiness this side of heaven.

     Now let’s be honest a moment.  How many hours of the day are you truly happy?  If your answer isn’t “most of the day” – then please consider praying to be motivated more completely by the Holy Spirit during waking hours.