life liberty and the pursuit of happiness

It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” It was John Adams who said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People.

True liberty is only possible when it is ordered by God’s natural law. The result is anarchy at worst, and cultural chaos at best. Just as policies designed to oppress freedom and limit our potential lead to human misery, so do the policies of those who foolishly believe in liberty absent moral standards established by an omniscient God. Hearts begin to fill with hopelessness, despair and a feeling of “why even bother?” Such negative attitudes affect the fabric of the nation and result in malaise. Spirits are crushed, and society suffers from stagnation. When governments play God and restrict the pursuit of happiness through endless regulations and bureaucratic paperwork, they shatter dreams and set people up for failure.

Government has a duty to stay out of the way of those who wish to relentlessly pursue their dreams. When governments erect unnecessary barriers that inhibit innovation and creativity, they also rob people of the opportunity to pursue their dreams.īoth the fulfillment that comes with personal achievement and the deep satisfaction that comes with trying your best, but failing and having the ability and the guts to try again, are essential to human happiness. It also destroys liberties as the takers gradually become ensnared by the strings that are always attached to easy money. Falling into this trance robs people of much happiness. It’s just so much easier to take the cash and avoid the work required to overcome adversity in order to achieve our dreams. Far too many Americans have fallen for the allure of the siren song of instant gratification. Tragically, that right is infringed when oppressive governments seek to foster a sense of dependency. In other words, we find our greatest happiness when we spend our time pursuing what we were created to do.ĭiscovering our purpose and doing our best to achieve it is a God-ordained right, and entire nations thrive or vanish depending on if they infringe upon this sacred prerogative.Īny accomplished dancer, welder, chef or nurse will tell you it takes hard work and long hours to develop innate talents in order to exercise them to their fullest potential. It is in discovering our own talents, and then developing and using them, that brings deep personal fulfillment. Some have abilities to excel in business, to champion a cause, or are imbued with the gift of hospitality. Some are created to be musicians, others writers or teachers. God created us in His image, with each of us reflecting glimpses of His magnificence. No one can hand happiness to us: It is something we must work toward. The “pursuit of happiness” involves effort.

Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness