"There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving."
(Acts 20:35)

        I will never be mistaken if I never have any misgivings.

What goes around comes around, as they say.   Or as Jesus put it, "All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them." (Matt 7:12)   This is known as the Golden Rule.   In his Sermon On The Mount, Jesus was giving instruction on how to be happy, as indicated clearly in his introduction (Matt 5:3-12).   So when is there happiness in receiving?   When what we receive is the result of our own giving, then we don't mind who we have become as people, so that we feel truly worthy of receiving it.   But the joy of giving is greater because of the need to be needed.

Sometimes we are happiest when we stop thinking about what we are doing, what our goals are, and simply reflect on all the good things that we have, things which we, in turn, can share with others.   Count your blessings is the old advice.   What's good about this moment, apart from all others?   Take a moment to feel thankful, not just to say you feel that way.   Getting in touch with our feelings in this way can help us to decide what it is we really want, and thereby help us to make goals.   But more importantly, it can help us to be truly happy.   How can we sincerely say that we are happy if we never feel that way?   Proverbs 11:17 says that a man of loving-kindness is dealing rewardingly with his own soul.   So we should allow ourselves to feel happy.   Give to ourselves, as well as to others.   When there is no skillful direction, the people fall; but there is salvation in the multitude of counselors (Prov 11:14).   The one in want of heart has despised his own fellowman,but the man of broad discernment is one that keeps silent (Prov 11:12).

And why is it so difficult to receive things?   Is it not because we are all sinners?   We would rather feel that we are needed than to feel that we need to receive from others.   And who is proved more righteous?   Is it not the man who views himself as a sinner? (See Luke 18:10-14)   Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.   But we do receive our lives from God, do we not.   So we are really not so ungrateful, are we? We do accept a gift given from the heart, even if it pains us to do so, do we not?   And if Adam had not sinned, there would have been no need of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Because we need Jesus, our happiness cannot come solely from within.