What is true happiness? Is it money, what kind of job I can get or what kind of home I can stay in? This always challenges my heart since I now live on Ma Wan a place that is so comfortable and cozy. I have to watch out that I don't lose sight of what true happiness is.
Going back to Matthew 5 the beattitudes: 3-6 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be conforted. Blessed are the meek (humbly patient and submissive), for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.'
The poor in spirit and those that are meek and moan is unattractive to the world. Every advertisement encourages us to be successful in our careers and our achievements to make it up the ladder to success. If we are in a good relationship with someone we can happy is what the world tells us. But in God's eyes to be happy also means to be a 'nobody' to this world. Which is completely opposite to what is said out there. Quite challenging but God actually esteems the nobody's according to this verse When we thirst for righteousness more than anything else in this world then I think we will have true happiness because the world cannot take that away from us. Our jobs, money, possessions will not last forever. We cannot take that to heaven one day. It's hard for us if our needs aren't met when we pray for them but don't despair because God has something far more better for us that the world cannot take away!
Sadly in Hong Kong we are surrounded by pressure to make it to the top it consumes us. We rely so much on money and status as things are more expensive than the mainland. It is so evident here. I really get more sober (realising deep down in my heart) when I go on visits to China that there is a bigger purpose out there than just working and filling our wallets and looking 'good' in society. I appreciate that China is so close by that I can go out and realise this thing or I think I will really get too caught up in the rat race in Hong Kong.
Wish we can grow in our appreciation of the little things we have now, of each other as a family and love what God loves more!
Love, Shelley
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