After instructing His disciples to wash one another’s feet, the Lord promised them something in return, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17).

     Happiness is an honorable and obtainable virtue, but should not be the ultimate goal of life.  Above riches, wealth, position, or fame, most people just want to be happy.  However, a lot of what we do never brings happiness into our lives because we are  void of selfless acts of service in the pursuit.  Jesus told the disciples that their happiness would be contingent upon their willingness to serve other people; again, “happy are ye if ye do them.”

     A.W.Tozer said, “God is more concerned with the state of people’s hearts than with the state of their feelings.  Undoubtedly the will of God brings final happiness to those who obey, but the most important matter is not how happy we are, but how holy (and humble) we are.”

     Tozer is in tune with the sentiment of the Savior.  The Lord promised happiness as a byproduct of service.  The reason many people never find happiness is because of their very pursuit of happiness. Our pursuit should be in the vein of holiness and humility; then, as promised by Christ, we will discover true joy and contentment which flows from a life of yieldedness and surrender.