Can money, wealth, fame & material possessions lead to everlasting joy and happiness? Could these things be what every person needs in order to be happy?
Ironically the majority of us seek after these things more than we seek anything else.

You might hear someone say: “if I had a lot of money – then that would make me happy”. Then when that person obtains the wealth and riches that he wanted, you discover some years later that the person got depressed and committed suicide.

You might hear another person say: “if I could just get a good job then I would be happy”. However, years after getting the job, you discover that person is not happy or satisfied with their job or career.

You might know someone who seeks just a bit more of that drug in order to get himself high because he feels that the more he takes drugs the more happy he will become. A few years later, you might discover that person has died from a drug overdose.

The truth is this – happiness isn’t found in possessions or a dependence on things.
Jesus said that our life does not consist in the abundance of things (Luke 12:15).

Neither money nor wealth nor material possessions can be deemed as evil within themselves.
However, when we observe the life of famous & wealthy people it’s easy to realize that the answer to happiness or joy does not lie in riches or fame but it lies in something much greater.
If rich & famous people fall into depression to the point of committing suicide then it means that neither their wealth nor their fame was enough to stop the depression nor prevent them from taking their own life.

If we desire to find the true secret to happiness then we need to look beyond the things that are temporary. If one’s happiness is based upon something temporary – like money – then that person’s happiness will die/end when the money runs out.

There are certain issues in one’s life – such as anxiety, depression and addiction that cannot be dealt with simply by having a lot of money or by being famous. Fame cannot deal with depression because such issues are internal issues.
Depression, anxiety, addiction and even suicidal thoughts are issues that affect the soul and spirit of a person. They affect the inward part of us.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus says “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in & steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in & steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be”.
In the scripture above, Jesus encourages us not to inwardly dedicate ourselves to seeking after the temporary because the temporary will ultimately be destroyed. Happiness does not lie in the temporary.
Instead Jesus urges us to seek after the eternal things in heaven where nothing can be stolen or destroyed.

In John 15:11 Jesus says “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full”.
The kind of joy that Jesus gives us is the joy that remains inside of us despite the external circumstances. Therefore, it’s possible to go through challenges in your life but still have the joy of the Lord inside of you. It’s possible to go through a difficult situation but still remain confident in the Lord and have the peace of God which surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).
True joy is found when we set our hearts on the eternal things in heaven and when we accept Jesus Christ as being the ultimate source of everlasting joy.
The truth is – without Jesus, we cannot have everlasting happiness.

According to the World Health Organization close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year and there are many more who attempt suicide. Suicide is also the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds globally.

If you have suicidal thoughts or if you are being tempted to take your own life – It’s important to know that suicide is not the answer to solving life’s problems.
Life is a gift that comes from God and God would want us to value the life that He has given us.

Below are 13 reasons why you should NEVER consider suicide

1. You Are Loved
Even though you’re not perfect; even though you feel guilty; even though you feel like you’ve done bad things in your life – always know that there is someone who loves you unconditionally and that person is God your Creator.
Romans 5:8 says “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ dies for us”
Christ died for the sinners. Nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes and do things that we regret.
People may fail to love us; your family may fail to love you; your friends may fail to love you – but God NEVER fails and God will ALWAYS love you despite your failures or weaknesses. Therefore it’s important to know that even if you feel like people don’t love you – always remember that God loves you and you can embrace unconditional His love for you.

2. You Are Forgiven
Even if people don’t forgive you – God forgives you. Even when we think that we don’t need forgiveness – God still forgives us. When Jesus Christ was crucified and while He hung on the cross, Jesus forgave the very people who were crucifying Him as He cried “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.
Sometimes you might feel such guilt and remorse for something you have done, to the extent that you might feel that suicide is the only option or escape.
If you have done something wrong and you feel guilt, remorse and anguish over your situation – you can receive the forgiveness of God for whatever you have done.
1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
God will forgive whatever wrong thing that you have done. Whatever wrong you have done – Christ paid for it on the cross so that you may be cleansed of all unrighteousness.

3. God Can Carry Your Burdens
You might be carrying a lot of pain; you might be carrying a lot of hurt; you might be carrying a lot of heartache & depression. However, God wants you to cast all your burdens and all your pain onto Him.
1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you”.
Our bodies were not built for worry and depression. This is why depression or anxiety can lead to psychosomatic problems and sicknesses where one gets high blood pressure, heart attacks and the like. We were not designed to carry burdens.
However, God can carry our pain and burdens. All we have to do – is let go of the worry and anxiety and through trusting and praying, we give our issues to God and believe that He will take care of our issues.

4. God Can Give You Peace
Philippians 4:6-7 says “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
Whenever you are going through a problem in your life – it’s important to pray about it. When you have suicidal thoughts it’s important to pray about your thoughts and worries so that God may give you peace. In life we need somewhere to offload our problems and Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us to talk to God about EVERYTHING and to NOT be anxious about ANYTHING.
Therefore as you give your issues to God & let go of the circumstances that you cannot control – then eventually the peace of God will come.
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

5. God Has A Purpose for Your Life
In Jeremiah 29:11-12 God says “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord “Plans for peace and not for evil to give you a future and a hope”.
God’s thoughts towards His people are that of peace and not of evil. God’s thoughts towards you is to give you a future and a hope.
When one considers suicide it is a sign that one no longer thinks that he/she has a future and a hope.
However, God offers you hope and He has a future for you. Suicide simply aborts the plans that God has laid for your life

6. God Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You
Even if people forsake you or even if you feel lonely. Know that you’re not alone because God will never leave you nor forsake you. God is with you through both the good and the bad situations in your life.

7. God Will Give You Strength to Overcome & Persevere
1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
The thought of suicide is a reflection that one believes that the problem is too much and too hard to be resolved or handled. However, God says that emotionally, spiritually and even practically there is a way of escape for every trial and temptation that we face.
Suicide is NOT a method of escape from one’s problems because it violates God’s principles about life. If God allows trials and temptations in your life, it is only so that you may grow and mature but it is never with the intention for you to take your own life.
Therefore whenever you go through a tough situation and you’re perhaps bombarded with suicidal thoughts – pray to God and allow Him to strengthen you to persevere and overcome.

8. God Can Deliver You
Don’t hold onto the pain. Don’t hold onto the depression, but let God deliver you. Allow God to set you free from suicidal thoughts and suicidal temptations.
In Jeremiah 32:27 God says “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?”.
There is nothing that is too hard for God to handle in your life.

9. God Can Give You Hope
Sometimes you can feel as if you have no hope. Sometimes you can feel as if there is no way out. However with God there is always hope and with Him there is always a way out.
Psalms 43:5 – Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
When a person attempts or commits suicide, it is a sign that hope has been lost. However, keep hoping in God even when the situation you’re in seems bleak. Keep hoping.

10. God Can Give You Patience & Perseverance
James 1:2-4 says : My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
God uses every trial and temptation to build our character and to make us stronger if we persevere and succeed in overcoming.
According to James 1:2-4 our attitude of in the face of trials should be one of joy because the testing of our faith will build our character.

11. God Can Give You Wisdom
If you lack wisdom to overcome your situation the Bible says that we should ask God for wisdom. James 1:5 says: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Suicide is NEVER a wise choice. Suicide should never be considered as an appropriate choice to escape issues. Rather, when we have issues and problems, we need to ask God to give us the wisdom to overcome our problems.

12. God Can Comfort You So That You Eventually Comfort Others
If you’re considering suicide, do not take your own life but instead find comfort in God. Let God give you the assurance, the security and the comfort that you need in your situation.
Eventually when you are comforted by God – you will one day counsel and comfort those who have been going through the same situation.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

13. God Can Give You Jesus
Ultimately, without Jesus, we do not have eternal life. Jesus came that we may have life and have life more abundantly (John 10:10).
Jesus says that He is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6). Therefore without Jesus we cannot have eternal life.
The Bible says that without Christ in our life we will perish eternally (John 3:16). However if we believe in Christ, we will be destined for eternity with God.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST???

1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.

2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to repent of sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to
follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.

4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God.

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.

PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
I repent of all of my sins and I ask You to cleanse me Jesus.
Thank You for forgiving my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”

Have you accepted & believed in Jesus Christ as a result of reading this article? If so please acknowledge by clicking the “I Have Accepted Jesus Christ” button below