We know what will make us happy – don't we? I mean if we can just get that new car, or that new job with such and such a salary we'd be happy – right? It's as though we know what is missing from our lives to make us happy. If we can just get that missing part then we'd truly be happy. Maybe it's a relationship, maybe it's money, or some other material thing. Or perhaps if you can just lose that extra 10 pounds you'd be happy? How many times have we pursued that missing piece only to get it and find out it wasn't all that great. Sure the car was as fast as it was advertised and it made me happy for a time but I still had that emptiness. Sure I felt better when I lost the weight but I was still missing something. And sure I enjoyed spending the money I earned as a manager but even that was fleeting.

Perhaps we really don't know what will make us happy? Today our culture says happiness is relative – in other words, whatever makes us happy at that moment is what matters. Is it any wonder bankruptcies and drug use are at an all time high? Paul tells us in the book of Philippians that regardless if he was rich or if he was poor he learned to be content no matter his situation. What was his secret? He learned to rely on God for His happiness. Only God can fill that empty void that exists. There is purpose in following Jesus and when we have purpose we have happiness.