Does FUN Lead to Happiness?

On By Phil MessingerIn FUN FRIDAYS!, Hope, Jesus, Joy

I hope so!

Last week, I made the statement that we can create hope! Is that logical? Maybe the better statement is: “We can cultivate hope.”

Now I want to add the following statement:

 FUN can lead to happiness!

Let’s explore both ideas.

Sometimes people make weak arguments. Instead of addressing the real issue, they sidestep the question entirely. They construct an argument that sounds reasonable on the surface, often mixing in partial truths, but the conclusion doesn’t logically follow. 

I don’t want to do that here. In fact, I want to correct myself. 

Hope

Can we create hope? Let me correct myself and change my statement to:

“We can cultivate hope.” 

Here is my argument:

When we Give Your Story to someone, it gives them hope. We aren’t telling that person what to do. We are giving them a real life example of what happened, how we overcame the situation and what it’s like now. When we give our story, suddenly that person realizes. “If God did this for them, maybe God can do that for me.” In the 12-Step world we call this, experience strength and hope. 

We didn’t become their hope – We pointed them to the ONE who IS hope. 

We can cultivate hope, Jesus is the hope. 

Yo! So like, let’s get all Jesusy on this topic of hope – Jesus didn’t just talk about hope. He embodied it. Jesus is the hope! Jesus is the creator of hope! We can point people to hope by pointing them to Jesus. Let’s explore the best Jesusy answer to this argument!

Jesus provided hope in many different ways. Sometimes He gave hope through miracles, but more often He gave hope by revealing God’s character, offering forgiveness, and calling people into a new life. Here is one of the MOST strongest biblical examples:

The Woman Caught in Adultery

Jesus of Nazareth and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11)

This is one of the clearest pictures of hope through grace.

  • Everyone expected condemnation.
  • Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the accusers.
  • He offered mercy without excusing the sin: “Neither do I condemn you… Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Hope: Your past or current circumstances do not have to define your future – we can cultivate this hope by telling our stories. Jesus is the answer that gives us the hope. 

So, dut dut dut dut dut, what about FUN?

Let’s get the train rolling in a different gear.  

Fun and Happiness

Can choosing Fun lead to Happiness?

I think it can!

Happiness – a state of well being and contentment. 

Here is my argument as to why choosing FUN can lead to happiness:

Can choosing fun, when you are working on a job that sucks, lead to happiness? YES! I don’t know about you, but I do it all the time. Why? Because I am hoping that the job stops sucking soon! Until it stops sucking, I am going to have fun in hope that things will get better. I am going to smile, joke around and laugh in the hope that the job will stop sucking! When I choose fun, I am not choosing hatred. Instead, I am choosing the Spirit of God. When I choose FUN, I am choosing Joy. 

Choosing FUN doesn’t change my circumstances.

Choosing FUN changes how I walk through the circumstances.

Now let’s get REALLY Jesusy again. Happiness is not an objective in the bible. The objective is to pursue JESUS. In our pursuit of Jesus, we are to bear fruit. Joy, which is one of the Fruits of the Spirit, is not the result of an environment. Joy is not dependent on circumstances. Joy is a result of the Spirit! -The Holy Spirit – God- JESUS. 

The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.  

Jesus is the ULTIMATE example of the Fruit of the Spirit in negative circumstances:

Jesus on the Cross – Love, Forgiveness, Peace

Jesus of Nazareth

Luke 23:34

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Negative environment:

  • Betrayed
  • Beaten
  • Mocked
  • Crucified

Fruit displayed:

  • Love
  • Peace
  • Patience
  • Kindness
  • Self-control

Instead of hatred, Jesus offered forgiveness.

Can we create hope? – Not without Jesus.

We can absolutely create or cultivate moments where people encounter hope and joy by pointing them to Jesus through our words (fun with words that create laughter and happiness) our actions, our stories, and our lives.

Can fun lead to happiness?

I think it can.

Not because fun changes our circumstances, but because it changes our perspective. And when our perspective is centered on Christ, happiness may come and go…However:

Joy remains.

This weekend: Regardless of your circumstances – SEEK HIM and look to joy and Have Fun! 

Use your email and a screen name to leave a comment