Get Off The Treadmill

Get off the Treadmill

Matthew 11:25-30

September 10, 2023

The New York Times ran an article called "Happiness 101." They wanted to get to the root of what really makes people happy. A team of researchers concluded that Americans seek happiness in the wrong way.

They concluded - - people think ‘if we can experience more and more pleasure - - - it will bring me happiness. Researchers said anyone who thinks this way are on the hedonic treadmill.

The hedonic treadmill was first named in 1971 and basically it means we pursue our highs, but ultimately we always return to the baseline and pursue the newest highs so that we can satisfy ourselves. It comes from the word hedonism, which is the continual pursuit of self-gratification or happiness. It’s a form of narcissism.

Think about our patterns to acquire things - - - we move from

desire to striving for it.

Then we obtain it and are happy

Then it’s not new and we gain a new desire

It’s like phones. A new one comes out and you believe you need it, you spend your money on it, get it, are happy with your shiny new phone, but then it’s no longer new and new phones come out. And you start over again.

It’s the thought that I need to accumulate more, buy that new dress or purse, or car or phone and that will bring me happiness, but acquiring this golden prize just doesn’t cut it. So, we pursue something bigger and better . . .

. . . and frankly that’s exhausting.

So, the article was correct. Great start, but they crash and burn their landing. Because the solution to find real and true happiness is to GIVE YOUR LIFE AWAY.

Well, on the surface that sounds kind of Christian. Be sacrificial like Jesus was. Hey, they’re on the right path. But sadly, they fell short in their solution.

Their conclusion was this - - - - in order to find fulfillment in my life I need to give more money to that charity; or I need to serve at the mission; or I need to do something, which still sounds good, but the goal - - - - the motivation is for me to receive something.

I hope you're seeing what the problem is with all this. The problem with their solution is that it’s really self-defeating, because my acts of service are no longer acts of service if they're merely a means to fulfill a greater end, which is me.

I want happiness, so I'll serve, I'll give money, I'll do something. The problem is that I’m not doing these things because of my passion to serve or because I love the people, but because it’s supposed to make me feel good about me.

It’s not because I want to honor and glorify God. It’s really about glorifying me.

So, why am I carrying on about this? Because this is exactly what Jesus spoke about. How many times when you read the Bible do you see Jesus talking to the Pharisees and religious elite and He’s telling them they need to die to themselves in order to live for Christ?

It’s over and over and over. And we often seek to find that happiness through the religion of doing, until we can’t do anymore.

In the gospel of Matthew, in chapter 6, during the sermon on the Mount, Jesus assumed that His disciples would do what these researchers suggested.

That's why in Matthew 6, Jesus says

When you pray …

When you give …

When you fast …

It was an expectation. The deeper question was the motivation. Why are you doing these? Is it to earn favor with God? Is it to feel better about yourself?

Or - - - - is it because you’re passionate about Jesus and serving and fasting, reading the Bible, praying and giving your money are opportunities to serve God and His people?

You see, if you’re doing all of these things to attain happiness as a duty, then this is going to wear you down. There are days when reading the Bible for me is so much fun, that I read extra. It’s a privilege and a joy to be able to do these things, but they should never be a chore and burden.

Last week we talked about work and 2 weeks ago, an offer from Jesus. And we’re going to look at it again. It’s what Jesus offers us, because I really think we’re weary, tired, exhausted and in need of what Jesus is offering us. In Matthew 11, beginning in verse 25, we read - - - -

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;