happiness. It was cause for his grief, instead. His wealth ensnared him.—Matt. 19:16-24, NW.

Happiness is acquired by obtaining something more valuable than silver or gold, and that valuable thing is an accurate knowledge of God’s Word the Bible. Note what the wise man stated on this point: “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” The things that bring lasting happiness, then, are wisdom, understanding and knowledge of God’s purposes. These give one hope, joy and comfort. They enable us to see the world for what it is, why all these woes have come upon it and what the outcome will be. Knowledge of God gives one a purpose in life, a goal, something to work for. It is this that makes us happy. Gaining this knowledge through study and applying it in our everyday life means more than happiness. It means that we have God’s approval, which in turn means everlasting life. Said Jesus: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”—Prov. 3:13-18; John 17:3, NW.

Happiness, then, comes about by proper knowledge, by right thinking, and by fixing our minds on the sure Word and promises of Almighty God. That is why Paul advises those who would be happy to think on these things: “Whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things. The things which you learned as well as accepted and heard and saw in connection with me, practice these; and the God of peace will be with you.”—Phil. 4:8, 9, NW.

We have all these good things embodied in God’s Word the Bible. The remedy outlined in the Scriptures is sure. It waits on us to apply it. Do so and be happy. Find even greater happiness by giving this recipe to others. For as Jesus said: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.”—Acts 20:35, NW.

A Big Bang!

After extolling Annie Oakley (an American whose name is synonymous with good marksmanship) for her skill with a gun and suggesting that her portrait hang in every theological school in the land, Simeon Stylites says, in the November 17 issue of Christian Century: “Her portrait would surely be an inspiration to young preachers to learn to hit a mark. So many of them are rather tentative in that respect. Their verbal shots are high, wide and handsome. Handsome, certainly, but too high for their audience, and too wide of the mark, away off to the side of the interests of the hearers. It is a lot easier to hit the sky than to hit a rabbit. And many speakers of every sort are content to shoot at the sky. With some preachers every Sunday is Ascension Sunday as they soar up into the stratosphere. They remind one of the boy showing his father his air-rifle shots. ‘What are you shooting at, son?’ the father asked. ‘Oh, nothing,’ the boy replied, ‘but wasn’t it a big bang?’”