Welcome to 10 minute Bible Talks.

Where we connect the Bible to your life,

in the time it takes to get to work.

I'm Patrick Miller.

What's the secret to happiness? In David Foster Wallace's modern classic infinite jest,

he records an ongoing conversation

between an American spy named Stipley and a French Canadian

spy named Marat.

Now the American spy, Stipley, he explains that all good Americans understand that the key to happiness is the freedom to have what you want and do what you want so long as you don't hurt anybody else.

Now he explains that if everyone just ran after their own desires and they

tried their best not to obstruct someone else's desires, well then somehow the

free market and common sense and decency would see to the rest.

Everybody would have maximal happiness.

The scene is striking because steeply says the quiet part out loud.

He speaks the truth that not just Americans but many

people in the West believe and he speaks it forthrightly that the secret

happiness is to treat yourself to focus on your desires, to pursue your desires, to buy what you want, to have what you want,

and to trust your wants as the only faithful map to the promised land.

And Ecclesiasties too, the preacher, the author of Ecclesiasties, he tells us that he tried this exact approach to happiness, and as a kingly figure, he went so hard into the paint that the paint started peeling.

Question is, does pursuing our sexual, social, and chemical desires really lead us to deep

happiness?

Is the American, the spy named steeply, is he right about the world? deep Come now. I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good, but that also proved to be meaningless.

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