#blessed

Credit for this photo goes to Coca-Cola

I am a college student, and in one of my communications classes last semester, we spent a day discussing Coca-Cola's revolutionary advertising strategies.  Coca-Cola was the first to equate happiness with a drink... at least, with a nonalcoholic beverage.  Their "Open Happiness" campaign was hugely successful. 

Our society is desperate to find true happiness, and when we can't, we seek to have the appearance of being happy.  If everyone else looks happy, then we should do whatever it takes to look even happier.  If happiness is buying a bottle of Coke, then so be it.

We tend to fall into bragging by pretending to share our blessings.  I have sure done this.  How many times have you captured a picture of a yummy cup of coffee or a laughing group of your friends and posted it online with a hashtag like #blessed?  How many times have you taken to Facebook or Twitter to announce how fantastic your day is going?  It feels great to use social media as a tool of showing everyone around you that you're happy.  You're successful.  You have friends.  Your life is just as good as anyone else's, if not better.

It's easy to forget the difference between temporary happiness and joy.  The Lord sustains and provides.  He gives all joy, and no material thing, no relationship, no accomplishment can ever be enough without Him.

I'm not saying it's wrong to share about your good day on social networking sites.  It's great to be happy.  It's great to share your happiness with others.  It's great to praise the Lord with a joyful and sincere heart. But it's not great to boast, and it's not great to seek joy from anything other than the Lord, whether it's through a bottle of Coca-Cola or the number of likes on a Facebook status.  

Joy comes from the Lord.  Psalm 63:5 says, "My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips."  He gives every good thing. 

Christ is joy.  Nothing else of this earth really matters.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Psalm 73:25-26

Two years ago: Apology
One year ago: Ways you can win my heart.