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CONCLUSION
We began this book with a discussion on the pursuit of happiness and defined love in those terms. In the end, happiness remains the only really meaningful measure of success or failure, and everything else is just a means towards that fundamental aim. For the pursuit to be effective, we cannot restrict ourselves to a short-sighted, exclusive, superficial perspective. With very good reasons, it must be centred on God and embrace others. Nevertheless, happiness still remains the final criterion. True success does not lie in our visible achievements as compared with those of other people, or in accumulating the values of the world. We are ‘successful’ whenever we become happier than we were, in the deepest sense, and others are happier because of us.
If we love God and follow Christ it is not because we don't love ourselves, but because we do. In the final analysis, Christianity incorporates the art of loving ourselves as an integral part of its way of life. It includes the responsibility of being good to ourselves now and the prudence of investing in our future. Where it differs from most other sources of guidance, is that without disregarding our present needs it takes a universally inclusive and eternal view.
I hesitate to call this a conclusion, or indeed to write a conclusion at all. In a way, it is like ending a journey when one has just departed from home. Another reason is that I find it impossible to summarise the teachings of Christ in a few words; everything he said is important. For the reader who may be largely unfamiliar with his recorded life and message, I hope that this will be no more than a beginning.
Perhaps the most significant thing about Christ is not even the immeasurable wisdom of his teachings but who he was and is. The Gospel accounts speak of him as the Son of God and the saviour of all human beings. In his words -
‘Whoever lives and believes in me will never die’ (John 11:25). * * * * * * * *
‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’(John 8:31) |
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