The Pursuit of Happiness

The US Declaration of Independence states that we are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Thomas Jefferson took this concept of the pursuit of happiness from a Scottish Enlightenment writer, and it actually means, wisdom and virtue.

Interestingly, The Greek word for happiness" is eudaimonia, which is associated with aret, the Greek word for virtue" or excellence."

Since the only source of all wisdom, virtue, or excellence is Jesus, let us seek His face with all our heart. Let us seek to yield to Him so that He can do His righteousness through us. That is the source of joy and happiness.

Virtue is goodness. Jesus said, "There is none good but God." Paul indicated that righteousness is a free gift from God and that it is grace that does good works through us, not we ourselves. He also says that it is faith that gives access to grace, and that faith comes by hearing the word (literally, utterance) of God. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My Voice."

Wisdom is defined in 1 Corinthians 1:30.  It is Jesus Christ, and it is righteousness, holiness, and redemption.  Righteousness, that is hearing God's Spirit and responding to Him in obedience and submission so that His love is shed abroad in out hearts by the Holy Ghost, plants the seeds of holiness.  You reap what you sow.  Holiness is a transfiguration, by small steps from glory to glory, largely in the mind, that sets us free our own fallen nature, Satan, and the social pressures of the culture.