What Does it Take to Be Permanently Happy?
So what would you like to receive for Christmas this year? And, what would you like to receive for your next birthday? A new car, the latest computer setup, a large sum of money, or perhaps an all expenses paid cruise on a luxury liner? Sounds great doesn't it? Yes, it does, but aren't we forgetting something here? Before we look ahead at the things we hope for in the future, let us first assess whether the things we acquired in the past have contributed to our present happiness or not. Can you remember what gifts you received this past Christmas? Can you remember what gifts you received for your last birthday? Well, some people might remember, and others won't. If you can, let's go back one year, and then one more. Do you feel the same thrill for the things you received a year or two ago, as you did before or during the time you received them?
 

No, you don't. Shortly after receiving that new car, the same things which irritated you about your partner, or the same things which you didn't like about yourself, or the same things which upset you about work, were still coming at you. The new car distracted you from those things for a while, but before long, things were just back to normal. The same can be said for that overseas trip, the same can be said as your bank account grew, and the same can be said after you got that job promotion or after you graduated with your degree. Yes, happiness just seems to be a short lived emotion that only comes around at certain times, depending on what our particular circumstances are at a specific time. Is this the way life is, or is it possible to have a stable, secure and steadfast happiness that out lasts any circumstance or crisis? It doesn't take superior intelligence to notice that this rule of life even applies to the rich and famous. The statistics of how many celebrities are slaves to drugs, drink and divorce, are staggering. So many rock stars have had tragic, premature deaths due to drug and alcohol overdoses, and even suicide. Why is this? Why doesn't wealth and fame bring inner peace, contentment and a lasting happiness?

Happiness is Sacrificed When Self is Satisfied
Unconsciously, every person has an overwhelming, compulsive tendency to be selfish, self centered, and self absorbed. Every person thinks of satisfying their basic needs of hunger, their needs for shelter and security, their needs for love and acceptance, their needs for sexual fulfillment, and their needs for achievement and progress. As we have read in the article, "The War for Control of Your Thoughts," Satan is a master of manipulating man's thoughts to fall into the temptations and traps which he sets in any and every aspect of man's existence. The area of satisfying self is probably used most frequently by evil forces against susceptible humans on this earth. As man is born into sin, with a natural instinct of self preservation, self protection, and self prospering, Satan takes this tendency and degrades it to its lowest possible levels. Man becomes a "slave to satisfying self"! Unaware, and unsuspecting, man follows what seems to be his natural instincts with regards to satisfying and serving self.
 

The reality of the matter is that through his fallen nature and through the work of Satan, self becomes the god that each person glorifies--the invincible idol which each soul is subject to. "Oh, no, you're mistaken!" you say, "I have been a Christian for some time now, and I have surrendered myself to Christ!" Well, then this doesn't apply to you, and that is wonderful news. But just pause to be retested as to whether self has been totally sacrificed in your life. Ask these crucial questions to test yourself, "Am I unconditionally happy? Have I overcome the master passions and ruling sins in my life? Am I daily overwhelmed with my own sinfulness to the point where I flee into the presence of God, before the day starts, so as to immunize myself from the sickness of sin and self surfacing? Do I feel the compelling love, care, and compassion for every person that Jesus Christ would feel?" If your answer to any one of these questions is 'no,' you will know that there is a need in your life to totally sacrifice self. You see, wherever there is any measure of self present, there won't be a lasting happiness--only a short-term, temporary happiness. "It is the love of self that destroys our peace." Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, E.G. White, p. 16.

Self Cannot be Satisfied--It Must be Sacrificed
When a person realizes that self can NEVER be satisfied, and that self is possessed by a demon that will not allow it to be satisfied, and that the only way to overcome this strangle hold of slavery to self, is to sacrifice self--only then can that person start their walk to further intimacy with God, look forward to overcoming their dominant sins, and begin experiencing the unconditional love of Christ to God and to others. When a person is self absorbed, self centered, and self pleasing, they spin themselves in an ever tightening web of unsatisfied demands and desires. Self focus forces a never ending inventory of needs and necessities which seem crucial to an individuals survival and happiness. The truth is that self will never be satisfied, its needs never met, and its desires never fulfilled. Self is like an unquenchable fire which is constantly consuming the circumstances and commodities provided for it to feed on.
 

In other words, like a beggar never stops begging, so self will constantly plead for attention, for new and better things, to be pleased through appetite, to be entertained, to find sexual pleasure, to accumulate wealth, to gain job promotions, and so self will go on and on and on, never satisfied. The economy of Satan centers around gaining and gathering toward self. Satan stands for everything that is opposite to God, and as we will see in the paragraph below, God is the "Generous Unconditional Giver." Satan inspires man to look after his own interests and keep putting himself first, even at the expense of others. In studying the Scriptures, one can easily see that sin and self are synonymous. Sin came into existence because of Lucifer's obsession with exalting and edifying self. Before trying to overcome any particular sin, a person needs to come face to face with strangling, slaughtering and then sacrificing self. It needs to be that severe. Satan sows the seeds that germinate into selfishness, greed, and gluttony, and those who subscribe to his philosophies fall into a mind set of constant taking and gathering toward themselves.

Satan himself is responsible for taking life, for taking loyalty and purity from marriages, for taking love and commitment from relationships, for taking benevolence from business dealings, and for taking the concern and care between mankind in general. The presence of war, the disputes between people, the rate of divorce, the crime, the dishonesty and cheating, and even the bitterness and criticism within the church, all show that Satan has been successful in drawing men to mirror his dictates of holding self supreme. Click here to view the diagram of the two approaches to self. "Sacrificing Self," or "Satisfying Self."
 

God's Grace of Generous Giving is Completely Opposite to Self
The economy of God is to give. God gives and gives to all the people He created, whether they serve Him or not. He gives rain that produces food and water for everyone. He gives the air that fills the lungs of every person and gives them life. He gives sunshine to the whole world everyday which is an essential ingredient for all life. He gives the miracle of recreated life to everyone in the form of new born babies. He gives health and strength, to everyone. He gives man the wonderful gift of love which can be shared in friendships and relationships in marriage, in families, and between people generally.

He gives man nature on land and in the sea for his good pleasure. Nature is the perfect lesson book of giving. "No bird that cleaves the air, no animal that moves upon the ground, but ministers to some other life. There is no leaf of the forest, or lowly blade of grass, but has its ministry. Every tree and shrub and leaf pours forth that element of life without which neither man nor animal could live; and man and animal, in turn, minister to the life of tree and shrub and leaf. The flowers breathe fragrance and unfold their beauty in blessing to the world. The sun sheds its light to gladden a thousand worlds. The ocean, itself the source of all our springs and fountains, receives the streams from every land, but takes to give. The mists ascending from its bosom fall in showers to water the earth, that it may bring forth and bud." Desire of Ages, E.G. White, p. 20. So God gives and gives until He finally gives Himself to come and die in our place for our rebellion against Him, right after He gave us the gift of life. What a God! God gave this purpose to the people.  He created man and wanted him to also participate in giving. God made it that when people give, something miraculous happens inside of them. Giving allows a person to feel a surge of God's purposes inside their inner beings. The same surge that God's purposes of loving, being patient, kind, caring and compassionate would bring them.

Jesus' Example of Giving and of Selflessness (Phillipians 2)
The Generous Giving of God was practically demonstrated for all men to see by the life of Jesus Christ. Every thought and action in the life of Jesus was focused to help the people around Him. He never thought about Himself or His own needs. He never acted on His own behalf or spent His energies on meeting His needs. He practiced a life of unconditional giving for His Father and for the lost lives living near Him, or coming across His path from time to time. He "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:7, 8. (See picture below)

What is grace? Grace is the unconditional and undeserved free gifts which God gives to all men who have rebelled against Him. The theory of this grace is summarized in the Word of God, and practically demonstrated by the Word made flesh, in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus read the words the prophet Isaiah wrote, with regard to His life's work and mission. . . . "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18, 19.

The Teaching of Jesus on Sacrificing Self
The perfect example of sacrificing self was epitomized in Jesus' practical day to day life, and also mirrored clearly in all His teaching. The beatitudes, as outlined in Matthew 5, show that happiness in life comes from admitting "spiritual poverty", experiencing true "heartfelt sorrow" for the constant attempts at satisfying self, and praying daily for the "meek selfless attitude" of Jesus Christ.  In Matthew 6:25-33, Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them." (See picture below)

Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." This is unbelievable. Jesus is saying that each person should even put his or her basic needs for survival, like food and clothes aside, and put a relationship with Him down as the first basic need of self. This is a far reaching and challenging teaching to practically implement in modern daily living. Then in Matthew 16:24, Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." This powerful statement summarizes all the teachings of Jesus on sacrificing self in order to be able to experience a relationship with the Gracious Unconditional Giving God.

Lasting Happiness Comes From Giving and Sacrificing Self
God created man in His own image and in His likeness. Therefore, if God is the Generous Unconditional Giver, He also created man to be in the likeness of His giving, unselfish nature. God created man to enjoy a miraculous thrill when he engaged in the noble act of unconditional giving. Satan has perverted this "likeness" that man has inherited from his Maker, and forced his own likeness of greed, selfishness, lust, self gratification, pride, self seeking, and all the other self related traits, onto man. Self has become the new god of this age which is worshiped by the masses. Happiness is experienced only when self is pleased and self is satisfied, even though it is only for a limited time. (See picture below)

God says "No!" Through Titus the apostle He says, "The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:11-14. Wow, can you see what power lies in the Grace of the Generous unconditional Giving God? Remember what the word "grace" means . . . it is the self sacrificing character of God that gives unconditionally and undeservedly to all men, irrespective of their loyalty to Him--to the point of death.
 

A Happy Life Revolves Around Giving Gifts
When my limited understanding begins to grasp just a fragment of this awesome truth, I stand amazed. I now rush into the presence of God before my day starts, crying out in desperation, "Dear God, my whole life is tied up in satisfying self. I want to acquire money and goods for self. I want to find and hold on to relationships in order to feel good about self. I want these relationships to feed the emotional needs of self, and make self feel good. I want to work hard to move ahead in my job so that self can progress and be promoted to a higher position. I want to constantly take sexual pleasure for self, irrespective of the consequences in the lives of others. I want self to be entertained and enjoy life at all times. Please save me from self! Please teach me to sacrifice this unsatisfiable self everyday!" I realize that without falling at God's feet daily, I am a slave to self, and that self will crush the "likeness" and Grace of the Generous Giving God out of me and destroy the chance of enjoying true happiness. Every time I sense self makes a demand to be satisfied, I soberly resist, and remember the consequences. I remember the years of miserable pursuits to please self, and the failed attempts to find happiness. My entire being is repulsed by the memories of how self has brought me to the point of death, how self destroyed precious relationships, and how self hurt innocent people around me. I unite myself with God's "likeness" in prayer and by the force of my own will to never take for self in any area of my life. I insist on only receiving everything as a gift from God, or from others.

I understand why the Law of God is focused around warning me that I am not to "take" or "gather" to self in any way, and only to "give" to God and those around me in everything I do, say, and think. Everything I do contains this principle. I never "take" praise when I have done something really well--I only accept it as a gift from others. I never "take" emotionally from a relationship for my happiness--I only accept whatever support and love I get as a wonderful gift. I never "take" sexual pleasure from my lifelong partner, or if I'm single, I never "take" pleasure from anyone, or "take" it by myself--I only accept it as a gift from my lifelong partner. I never go out of my way to entertain and "take" pleasure for myself--I only accept the good times that come as a reward from looking out for the interests and needs of others. I never make "acquiring" possessions a priority--I prayerfully consider what my needs are, and use devoted discernment to assess where God wants me to use my funds in giving for Him. I accept His blessing on my finances as a gift, with gladness and with gratitude.
 

The Law of the Generous God of Unconditional Giving
The Law of Giving warns people that an attitude of "taking" lures them onto Satan's ground and prevents God from working out His purposes in their lives:

(1) Stay off Satan's ground of satisfying self, by not taking other gods into your life. Anything that you take to please self that becomes more important that God, becomes a god to you.

(2) Stay off Satan's of satisfying self, ground by not taking any idols to bow down to, in reality or in principle. In reality you might not bow down to a new car or a large sum of money, but in principle and action, you might do so.

(3) Stay off Satan's ground of satisfying self, by not taking the name of the Lord your God in vain and to use it as an explanation or a means of expressing self. This name is holy and should only be associated with giving unconditionally in love to God and to others, and in doing God's will.

(4) Stay off Satan's ground of satisfying self, by giving the entire seventh-day to God as a gift and a token of your appreciation of the countless gifts He has given you. This day is a reminder that He is the Creator and Controller of the universe, that He created all things as good gifts for you, and is able to control every aspect of your life, and give you power over Satan by the same powerful word that He created everything with.

(5) Stay off Satan's ground of satisfying self, by giving love, honor and respect to your parents, who brought you into this world by the miraculous gift of procreation that God gave to them. They are like God in human form to you, as they made you, and even though they might have many faults, you need to honor them as you would honor God, unless they instruct you contrary to God's Word.

(6) Stay off Satan's ground of satisfying self, by not taking anyone's life for whatever reason.

(7) Stay off Satan's ground of satisfying self, by not taking sexual pleasure from anyone. You are only to receive sexual pleasure as a gift from a lifelong marriage partner of the opposite sex as God ordained.

(8) Stay off Satan's ground of satisfying self, by not taking the possessions of any person anywhere for whatever reason, be it their time, their reputation, or their dignity.

(9) Stay off Satan's ground of satisfying self, by not taking the truth from anyone, by telling an untruth or by merely remaining silent.

(10) Stay off Satan's ground of satisfying self, by not desiring anything for self that belongs to anyone around you, whether it is a tangible or intangible item. Rather be content with all you have and focus on giving rather than wanting or gathering things toward yourself.

The Grace of the Generous Giving God Empowers Me
Now I see how the grace of God can empower me to say "No!" to sin and ungodliness. I have learnt what pulls me onto Satan's ground, and I have learnt what I need to walk in God's "likeness," and in God's ways. Any person, any thing, or any practice that lures me to satisfy self I flee from with all my strength and with the strength given me by God's Spirit. Every day I hunger and thirst to empty my life of self the way Jesus Christ did. I constantly remember that "sin originated in self-seeking." (Desire of Ages, E.G. White, p.21), and that in order to escape the clutches of sin, I must flee from whatever is associated with the demon of satisfying self.

Click here to see the table compiled from the writings of Paul with regard to the emptying of self. "You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24). Click here to see the simplified view of "The Path of Power," and how the battle against sin and thoughts of depression, worthlessness, being unloved, having no purpose, and despair, are overcome.