Should Christians pursue happiness?
The UK has slipped down the happiness rankings, according to the World Happiness Report 2025 published this week, falling to 23rd place. Finland topped the list, with all the Scandinavian countries securing spots in the top ten. The only consolation is that the UK ranked ahead of the USA and France.
The criteria used for this index are GDP, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. It is a compilation of how residents rate those areas so I am not sure what it really means for the actual psychological state of the people in those countries, but it probably means something about the mental calmness due to some external factors
This prompts the question, should we, as Christians, strive for happiness or even talk about it as a goal?
In my opinion, happiness should not be our ultimate aim, but it is something we can speak about positively as part of the fruit of being in Christ and something that doesn’t depend on external factors but on inward reality.
The Bible talks about happiness a lot. Someone has counted and there are more than 3,000 places in the Bible where words such as joy, happiness, blessed, gladness, merriment, pleasure, celebration, cheer, laughter, delight, jubilation, feasting, exultation, and celebration are used.
Some preachers might tell you ‘God calls us to holiness, not happiness.’ And there is a sense that is true and challenges our selfishness, but it is too simplistic. The more we are holy the more we will be happy. There is enduring delight, pleasure, and, yes, happiness in knowing Jesus and becoming more like him.
Some people distinguish between happiness and joy, seeing joy as a deeper sense of contentment. This distinction can be helpful, as there are days when circumstances make it difficult to feel outwardly happy. However, to deny the experience of happiness is to overlook something that the Bible teaches.
Whatever our place on the happiness index this week, we can celebrate the joy and delight of knowing that Christ has made us holy – set apart for the worship of God.
Where are you finding your happiness today?
