An article in The New York Times, titled "Love People, Not Pleasure," tackles the issue of love from the perspective of happiness. Offering some refreshing cultural wisdom, writer Arthur C. Brooks delves deep into many of the perceived causes of unhappiness (mostly life circumstances), and their perceived cures (summing up, mostly getting more of whatever you think that you lack).

Brooks writes, "[W]hen people say, 'I am an unhappy person, they are really doing sums, whether they realize it or not. They are saying, 'My unhappiness is x, my happiness is y, and x > y.'" But that arithmetic doesn't tell the whole story, as is proved by the rich and famous still grasping for ever-elusive happiness, which seems to be no respecter of the rich or poor.

Brooks, after looking down dead-end after dead-end, offers a solution that is remarkably Christian—rather than loving things and using people, happiness is found when we love people and use things, letting go of our materialism, and leading lives of generosity and charity.

Possible Preaching Angle:

Happiness may not be the highest Christian virtue. It is not arithmetically guaranteed for disciples of Jesus in this life. But this little op-ed from the Times is on to something eternal. Our hearts will always take their satisfaction from giving generously, loving people with charity and self-forgetfulness.