Lucado's Happiness - Meditation #128

Max Lucado is a well-known and prolific Christian writer. He has a light-hearted and disarming style which is very much in evidence in his book, How Happiness Happens: Finding Lasting Joy in a World of Comparison, Disappointment and Unmet Expectations.[1]  The title alone promises a great deal. Can this writer well and truly provide us with a road to happiness?

We might ask first; do we want to be happy? Human nature is such that we know very well there are times when we prefer to rage in anger, boil with resentment, recoil with envy, or abandon all restraint with whatever miserable inclination invades our hearts and minds. If we can bring ourselves to say “well, yes, in spite of everything, I would like to be a happy person,” then Lucado has a few ideas for us.

One of these ideas can be found in Romans 16:16: “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” Ahem. Did the Apostle Paul really mean this? Different cultures, of course, have different ways of greeting, but the point is that respect is shown. Lucado states:

A greeting in its purest sense is a gesture of goodwill. Whether it be a culturally acceptable kiss on the cheek as is common in parts of Europe, a bow as is common in Asia, an abrazos y besos as is common in Latin America, or a warm handshake as is common in our Western culture, a greeting is an unselfish act.[2]

Lucado relates the story of a man who was recently released from prison. He happened to pass the mayor on the street. The mayor gave him a friendly greeting, which the man was not expecting. That friendly greeting had a profound effect on him, and he stated later that it changed his life.[3]

We can see how sometimes a friendly word can be very important to the recipient, but Lucado points out that the giver of the greeting also benefits. A study was done at the University of Pennsylvania to see if hugging made people happier. A group of students were instructed to give or receive five hugs per day over the course of four weeks. Measured against a control group, yes, they were found to be much happier.[4]

If we reflect on this, I believe most of us will immediately think of instances where we could have done a better job of greeting someone in our daily lives. We missed an opportunity to increase our own happiness as well as theirs.

Another example of how we can seek and find happiness is prayer. This is a large topic. Lucado states: “our prayers unlock the storehouses of heaven. The link between God’s goodness and your friends is your prayers. When you pray, when you speak for the ones who need help to the One who can give it, something wonderful happens.”[5] Experienced Christians know about prayer. The danger is letting it become routine, without passion or urgency. Lucado continues:

“We have the opportunity to offer heartfelt prayers for every person we see. We can pray for the attendant at the grocery store, the nurse in the doctor’s office, the maintenance staff in the office building. You don’t have to tell them of your intercessory prayer. Then again, I’m surprised at the welcome response from people when I say, “I’d like to pray for you. Do you have any particular needs?”[6]

It is interesting to ponder how we should respond if someone vehemently denies us permission to pray for them. What does it mean? Clearly, they are afraid of something. As mentioned earlier, sometimes people simply do not want to let go of their unhappiness. Sometimes the idea of a prayer answered would be so upsetting to an atheist’s worldview that they understandably fear any realization of God’s grace. Perhaps there is fear of owing a debt of gratitude to the person who is praying. This too is, of course, an irrational fear because we know all gratitude and all glory must go to God. There are countless potential barriers defending unbelief, but there is only one sure response—pray for the person. Pray that the love of God will penetrate their hearts and bring them unexpected and immeasurable happiness.

Is there any chance that our praying will become an unendurable burden to us? Lucado says no:

The act of praying for others has a boomerang effect. It allows us to shift the burden we carry for others to the shoulders of God. He invites us to cast all our cares upon him (1 Peter 5:7). Impossible burdens are made bearable because we pray about them. Don’t fret about politicians. Pray for them. Don’t grow angry at the condition of the church. Pray for her. Don’t let the difficulties of life suck you under. Give them to God before they get to you.[7]

So the act of praying is, in fact, a source of happiness for us. Do we still need encouragement for this? Talk to Christians who have been around awhile. Everyone will have at least one exciting story of prayer being answered. Will we always see immediate results? Perhaps not, but the act of trusting in God’s plan and God’s timing will be an act of faith, an act of participation in the relationship we have with God.

Another interesting road to happiness is a seldom used idea found in Colossians 3:16: “Admonish one another.” Before we focus on that word, let’s look at the verse as a whole: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God (ESV).” This verse is itself nothing less than an invitation to joy. As to that word “admonishment,” Lucado says:

Admonishment is high-octane encouragement. The word literally means “putting in mind.” To admonish is to deposit truth into a person’s thoughts. It might take the form of discipline, encouragement or affirmation. It may be commendation or correction. Above all, admonishment is truth spoken into a difficult circumstance. It inserts the chlorine tablet of veracity into the algae of difficulty.[8]

Sometimes hard truth needs to be spoken by and amongst Christians. This is done in the context of singing and worship and thankfulness. How can we say we have joy if we are afraid to speak or hear the truth?

The next road to happiness is rather a nice one. It is a revolutionary idea, hiding in plain sight. It is—wait for it— “love one another.” There are many Bible verses that deal with love, but Lucado has chosen 1 John 4:11 for those three words. Once again, if we look at the verses before and after, we will find a very rich context:

Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:8-12). (ESV).

These words certainly give us a lot to think about. There is a sequence of events here. God loves us first. Then we love one another. Lucado puts it this way:

So let God love you! Discover the purest source of happiness, the love of God. A love that is “too wonderful to be measured” (Ephesians 3:19 CEV, or as it is written in the ESV, “the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge).” A love that is not regulated by the receiver. . . You are loved when you don’t feel lovely. You are loved by God even when you are loved by no one else. Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you. God will love you.[9]

Lucado has more to say, but perhaps this is a good place to pause, reflect and meditate. May the love of God bless you and change your life to one of happiness and joy!

In praise of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—

Patrick McKitrick

Outreach Canada Ministries