That people expend a great deal of energy in quest of happiness should come as no surprise.  After all, the Declaration of Independence states:   We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with   Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

I think it is important to note that while a person may pursue happiness, the founding fathers did not guarantee it; and, it is the Creator who has endowed us with the right to pursue it.

Some people have little to show for their life because they have wasted it in pursuit of that which can be fleeting and once attained can be found to be of little substance.  This is the difference between happiness and gladness.  The one is associated more with circumstances while the other is associated with a relationship.

The psalmist wrote:  The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory (Psalm 64:10).  Gladness that is born out of this relationship is something that remains in spite of circumstances.

A careful reading of Matthew 5 shines a curious light on the nature of gladness and to whom it is promised.  Jesus said the glad are the:

• Poor in spirit
• Ones who mourn over their sin
• Meek
• Ones who hunger and thirst after righteousness
• Merciful
• Pure in heart
• Peacemakers
• Persecuted

Gladness is not found in some sleazy get-rich-quick scheme, nor is it some cheap gimmick, it comes from a relationship of the heart.  The love of God for man and man’s love for the Christ who died for him.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…..and He has kept on giving and giving…..Think about it!