The Hope...and It's not Happiness

31 Days to Happiness:  How to Find what Really Matters in Life, by David Jeremiah, is a solid book that every Christian should read.  Before jumping into the review, understand that this book was previously released under a different title -- Searching for Heaven on Earth.  In my opinion, the previous title is the one that should have remained; however, that decision was the author's or the editor's to make.  Either title fits, but my preference is the former.

Simply put, 31 Days is an in-depth examination of the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes.  While it falls into the "wisdom literature section" of the Bible, Ecclesiastes can be a rather depressing book as it constantly references the worthlessness of things on earth.  The only true satisfaction that we can find is when it is given to us by God through His grace.  For that reason, I believe the former title was  a better fit because searching for "heaven on earth" is impossible without God. 

As the title implies, the book is neatly divided into 31 chapters, so that any reader can consider one chapter a day.  Think of that -- you can read through Ecclesiastes and gain direct life application in one full month.  Dr. Jeremiah has a unique ability to transform complex and gloomy passages into thought-provoking and challenging ideas.  I am not saying that he is improving upon God's Word, but he does have the knack to apply God's Word into our daily lives. 

If you are looking to build a resource library on the books of the Bible, you cannot neglect this one for Ecclesiastes.  I am not going into great detail about the exegesis -- which is sound -- but I do want to implore you to get this book.  Unfortunately, other than the first few verses of chapter 3, Ecclesiastes is generally avoided but its lessons are valuable for the modern-day Christian.  As the title of my review says, the hope...it's not happiness!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”