我们已经明白到，只有在学懂与基督建立密切的关系，留在神的国度里，我们才能够经历真正的欢欣和喜乐。虽然耶稣的教导清楚表明快乐是公义的副产品（公义的意思是变得越来越像基督），但是仍有数以千计的基督徒对这真理只说不做。快乐仍然是他们的目标，公义只是他们的渴望。

让我再向你阐释另一个要点，当你与任何没有经历过真正快乐的基督徒坐下谈话时，你就会发现，他们的内心从来不曾清楚明白耶稣所说的这重要原则：「饥渴慕义的人有福了！因为他们必得饱足。」在透过基督徒辅导寻求帮助的人当中，十之其九都有这种情况。他们寻求辅导时，被问及想体验甚么时说：「我想有好的感觉，」或者是「我想感到快乐。」

我并不是批评或谴责这些人，因为我知道自己心里也有同样的倾向。每当我因为某些事情挣扎或感到受伤害时，我当时的渴望是除去负面的感觉，恢复我失去的快乐。但是我们尝试寻找快乐，就好像希望能第一时间熟睡一样──只要你有意识和热切地希望能够把它紧紧抓住，它就不会出现。所以，唯一的办法是：无论在甚么境况中，做你需要做的一切去荣耀基督。这样快乐必定会飘扬──这是肯定的。

Quietly we are coming to see that it is only as we learn to dwell at God's right hand in fellowship with Christ that we can experience true happiness and joy. Despite the clear teaching of Jesus that happiness is a by-product of righteousness (becoming more and more like Christ), there are still thousands of Christians paying no more than lip service to this truth. Happiness is their goal, righteousness merely their desire.

I am speaking generally when I make this next point, but sit down with any Christian who does not experience true happiness and you will find, deep within that person's heart, that they have never come to a clear understanding of this important principle uttered by Jesus: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." The same condition can be noted in nine out of ten people who seek help through Christian counselling Ask them what they want to experience as they go through counselling, and they say, "I want to feel good", or "I want to feel happy."

I imply no criticism or condemnation of these people, for I know that the same tendency exists in my own heart. Whenever I am struggling or hurting over some issue, my immediate desire is to get rid of the negative feelings and recover my lost happiness. But to try to find happiness is like trying to fall asleep. As long as you consciously and zealously try to grasp it, it fails to come. There is only one way: it is to do whatever you have to do in the situation to glorify Christ. Then happiness inevitably bubbles upward - as it must.