The Truth About Happiness
Jack Radcliffe
3/21/2010

My wife and I recently celebrated twenty-three years of being married to each other. Those years have been an incredible journey of love, faith, and trust learned through moments of amazing highs and painful lows. I’ve watched as she has handled each obstacle that came our way with grace and rock solid contentment. I, on the other hand, found myself struggling with God on more occasions than I can count. Would happiness always be this elusive for me?

The other day we were having a conversation about what I’ve learned from her about happiness and contentment. During the early years, my wife was always the first to respond to a need. She never had to be asked. At times, I wondered if it was really necessary for her to be the one to help. Was she helping out of a desire to fulfill her own need more than the need of the person she was helping? Why was it so easy for her to drop her immediate responsibilities (the kids and me) and respond to someone else, often leaving us to jump in and pick up what she dropped at home in order to go help? It seemed pretty inconsiderate and more than irritating.

She knew something that I didn’t, which is described in Proverbs 11:24-30. This passage presents a paradox that has nothing to do with finances. To be rich (read happy, blessed; literally, abundant and prosperous) one must be generous. Verse 30 describes generous people as fruitful and like trees of life; they attract people to their shade who want to discover blessing.

Not only are generous people able to bless others with relief in difficult and stressful times—they have a knack for understanding others. Our greatest needs aren’t always what present as needs. A physician will ask about symptoms to get to the real problem. Generous people look below the surface of material and financial issues and relational strife to the heart of the matter. This is what they respond to.

Under my wife’s influence, I made a commitment several months ago to work toward giving more than I take in every relationship, interaction, and responsibility. Generosity and being a blessing doesn’t come easy for me. God has given me someone who has drawn me to want to discover it. I’m thankful for her. Who has he given you?

Jack Radcliffe is a husband and father of four, a parent coach, a seminar presenter for Parenteen (www.parenteen.com), a ministry consultant with Youth Ministry Architects in Nashville, TN, and an adjunct professor at Martin Methodist College. He has an M.Div. from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio and a D.Min. in Practical Theology, Adolescent Development, and Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary.