Is It Wrong To Want To Be Happy? with Bobby Jamieson

Oct 23, 2025

Join Bobby Jamieson, a biblical scholar and associate pastor, as he dives deep into the meaning of happiness through the lens of Ecclesiastes. He explores the misconceptions surrounding happiness and argues that true satisfaction comes from being deeply rooted in God. Bobby also discusses the importance of gratitude and enjoying life’s gifts while cautioning against the traps of workism and idolizing identity. Don't miss his insights on how Christians can embrace joy and flourish within life’s limits!

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INSIGHT

Happiness Is God-Designed

God made humans to find full satisfaction in Him, so wanting happiness is not wrong.
True happiness is deepest when it aligns with our created purpose and flourishing.

INSIGHT

Happiness As Human Flourishing

Happiness can mean objective human flourishing, not just transient feelings.
Living the life you were made for produces deeper fulfillment than momentary cheerfulness.

ANECDOTE

Ecclesiastes Hooked The Author

Ecclesiastes gripped Bobby after preaching it and he wanted to keep exploring it.
That sustained interest turned into a book addressing happiness and meaning for believers and nonbelievers.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Bobby Jamieson to discuss his book “Everything Is Never Enough,” the book of Ecclesiastes, and what happiness is.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

Is it wrong to want to be happy?
Why did this become your thing?
What are the common misconceptions about what happiness is?
Do you feel like the answer lies in the book of Ecclesiastes or in the rest of the Bible?
What does fear of the Lord mean?
When you talk about happiness, what do you have to clear off the ground?
Is it possible to be “too God centered” where you miss out on the goodness of creation?
How have you learned to talk about this to your congregation?
How do you respond to people who say, “don’t find your identity in being a mom, find your identity in Christ?”
If we enjoy something, is it an idol?

Helpful Definitions:

Fear of the Lord: Reverence awe of His power, humble trembling at His generosity, confessing before His holiness, and marveling at His grace.

Guest Bio:

Bobby Jamieson serves as an associate pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He has an MDiv and ThM from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a PhD in New Testament from the University of Cambridge, where he also taught Greek. Bobby and his wife, Kristin, have four children, Rose, Lucy, William, and Margaret.

Bobby is the author of several books, including but not limited to; Sound Doctrine: How a Church Grows in the Love and Holiness of God, Going Public: Why Baptism Is Required for Church Membership, Jesus' Death and Heavenly Offering in Hebrews, The Paradox of Sonship: Christology in The Epistle to the Hebrews, and The Path to Being a Pastor: A Guide for the Aspiring.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Ecclesiastes, Proverbs 31:30, Psalm 16:6
“Everything Is Never Enough” by R B Jamieson
“Remaking the World” by Andrew Wilson
Knowing Faith Has Therapeutic Language Invaded The Church?
“Desiring God” by John Piper

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