Want To Be Happy? Give Your Life Away

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES The Habits of Happiness

Want To Be Happy? Give Your Life Away By Rick Warren — Feb 6, 2016 “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.” (Mark 8:35 LB) God wired the universe so that happiness does not come from status, salary, sex, or success. Happiness comes from service. God designed you to be happiest when you are giving your life away. Why? Because he wants you to become like him. It’s all about love! “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (Mark 8:35 LB). To have a happy heart, you have to practice service and generosity every day. Matthew 20:28 says, “Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (NLT). Jesus came to serve and give. Those are the two things that will bring more happiness in your life than anything else, and they define what it means to follow Jesus. If you’re not serving, if you’re not giving, then you’re not following Jesus. It’s very simple. God also wired the universe in such a way that the more you give yourself away, the more God gives to you and the more blessed and happier you are. In Philippians 2:17-18, Paul says, “Your faith makes you offer your lives as a sacrifice in serving God. If I have to offer my own blood with your sacrifice, I will be happy and full of joy with all of you. You also should be happy and full of joy with me” (NCV). Your faith makes you offer your life as a sacrifice and serve God by serving others. Sacrifice and serving are two of the keys to lifelong happiness — generously giving your life away for the sake of the Gospel. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What makes you happiest in life? Talk about a time when you experienced happiness through service or generosity. How much of your time is spent on service? What are ways that you can serve others today? Our Gift: The Habits of Happiness Complete Audio Series Now—more than ever—people are yearning for true happiness. In this brand new 6-session DVD study kit study called The Habits Of Happiness Pastor Rick Warren will teach you “exercises for a happy heart”, and offer biblically based ways to develop a perspective of contentment. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren The Habits of Happiness teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: Grow Healthy Relationships Message 2: ​​​​​How ​to Be Happy No Matter What Message 3: ​The Humble Path to Happiness Message 4: ​How to Keep Your Heart Happy Message 5: ​Happiness Can Be Learned Message 6: ​Five Daily Habits for Happiness Message 7: ​How to Keep From Stressing Out Message 8: ​God's Promises to the Generous PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at rickwarren.org. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2016 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe