Why do we do what we do? What’s our motivation in life? Anyone who’s studied people will tell you that our primary motivation is happiness, pleasure, joy. The French Christian philosopher, Blaise Pascal, said, “All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end…This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.” The Puritan Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, said much the same.
And yet Pascal, Henry, and all other students of the human race also tell us that happiness is unattainable. We want to be happy but we cannot be happy.
So are we wrong in making happiness our primary aim or are we seeking happiness in the wrong way and the wrong places? Is happiness a right goal and are we shooting into the right net? John 2:1-12 answers that question for us.