The Pursuit of Happiness

The Pursuit of Happiness

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776).

American children learn the words early in life. They hear them quoted often and for many reasons; they are taught in history classes, sometimes earlier than junior high. But what is “the pursuit of happiness,” and how has it been complicated by this present society? 

First of all, the pursuit of happiness is not a new concept. The idea came about long before our American Declaration of Independence was written.

According to John Locke

In An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1689), John Locke wrote, “The highest perfection of intellectual nature lies in a careful and constant pursuit of true and solid happiness.” He also declared that “The Necessity of pursuing true Happiness [is] the Foundation of Liberty.” 

Many of this country’s founders were influenced by Locke, but others also contributed similar ideas to their worldview.

According to Burlamaqui

Jean Jacques Burlamaqui (1747) was another “natural rights” philosopher who certainly influenced the American founding fathers, and was quoted notably by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison concerning “the pursuit of happiness,” a concept originally rooted in property. In his Principles of Natural Law, Burlamaqui identified the pursuit of happiness as the purpose of all human actions. Burlamaqui maintained that “Natural liberty is the right which nature gives to all mankind, of disposing of their persons and property, after the manner they judge most convenient to their happiness.” He went on, “Nature, I confess, has put into man a desire of happiness and an aversion to misery.” Locke referred to these as the “innate practical principles,” that “Do continue constantly to operate and influence all our actions without ceasing: these may be observed in all persons and all ages, steady and universal.”

According to Mason

Thomas Jefferson’s decision to include “the pursuit of happiness” as an “unalienable right” was a close association to George Mason’s claim in the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776). Mason (also a reader of John Locke) wrote that all men have certain inherent rights, including “the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.” Sound familiar?

These days, people are constantly demanding what they perceive as their rights, especially those rooted in the third clause–happiness. It’s the right of all Americans to be happy, correct? Hmmmm…That’s not what it says. In fact, I believe the demand for constant happiness is at the root of many of the problems in this country, and that demand is nurtured early in the lives of our children.

According to Koch

Author and speaker Kathy Koch teaches that, due largely to the readily available technology, there are 5 lies in which we are raising children:

1. I am the center of my universe.
2. I deserve to be happy.
3. I must have choices.
4. I am my own authority.
5. Information is all I need.

Note the first two: I am the most important human to me, and I deserve–I am entitled–to be happy. At a recent conference that I attended, Koch spoke these sobering words: “Entitlement will send people to hell.” We are allowing our young people to be taught that they deserve to be happy, not just as a goal for which to strive, not just as something to pursue, but a thing to be demanded here and now. It is a right.

In addition, one must consider that it is often in the valleys that growth and progress take place. Mountaintop experiences are great, but they don’t usually promote “pursuit.” When one is in a valley of unhappiness or unfulfillment, forward movement toward happiness is encouraged.

According to Definition

However, the problem is that the unalienable right of the pursuit of happiness is not the same as the promise of happiness itself. According to Vocabulary.com, “happiness, in psychology, [is] a state of emotional well-being that a person experiences either in a narrow sense, when good things happen in a specific moment, or more broadly, as a positive evaluation of one’s life and accomplishments overall—that is, subjective well-being.” Although it is possible for everyone to pursue happiness, happiness is not a guaranteed result. Since everyone’s idea of happiness is different, and everyone’s circumstances are different, and many circumstances are impossible for a person to control, happiness can not be assured.

The scriptures allow:

Listen:

Ecclesiastes 3:13 – And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.

Galatians 5:1– Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Matthew 6:31- 33 – 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. 

Matthew 7:7-8 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

It’s All About the Verbs

None of these scriptures say that one will be handed happiness as a right, not even a “saved and born again Christian.” There is always a verb: work, stand fast, ask, seek, knock–pursue! Do you see a theme here? If you want to be happy, you have to make an effort. It is not an entitlement. Period.

God bless you! Have a happy day!