Digging into the Joy of God’s Word
Happiness. Joy. We might look at these words and conclude that their definitions are similar. But I find their different histories interesting. The word “happy” comes from an old English word meaning “good luck;” (compare the word “happenstance”). “Joy” on the other hand comes from the same Latin word as “rejoice.” So I think of happiness as an emotion that is based on “good luck”—it results from positive experiences or favorable circumstances. For example, if someone gave you a cake or a present for your birthday, you would feel happy because the event is favorable for you. By contrast, joy is not merely an emotion, but an attitude we take toward a situation. After all, we can “rejoice” in positive or negative circumstances. If we are joyful, we will also be happy, but how do we find joy? Sometimes we are so busy seeking favorable or positive circumstances, trying to be happy, that we never even begin to even seek for joy.
Seeking to rejoice changes how I look at disruptions. I always find it interesting how two people can look at the exact same scenario yet come to different conclusions based on how they look at the situation. One person may lament how a car breakdown made them late to an appointment, while another person may use the time of waiting to read the Bible or pray and feel encouraged by how a seeming “problem” opened up a window for some quiet time with God. Too many times I look for happiness in the wrong place. I’m “barking up the wrong tree,” looking at what I think I want, when what I need is in an entirely different tree.
Seeking to preserve my happiness makes for shallow relationships with God and others. If I spend my time and energy making things nice for myself and making sure I’m comfortable, I shouldn’t be surprised if my relationships with others all feel distant. I shouldn’t be surprised if God isn’t using me in powerful ways, if I’m only bringing my “leftovers” to the table. Here in Iraq I live with an ever-revolving team. Good-byes are much less sad if I know I used the time well while the person was here—if I put all I could into the person and gleaned from their experiences. In short if I pursued the things that make for joy. However, good-byes are sad when I realize how much I took the other person for granted or let some minor things keep us from getting to fully know each other. I want to find joy in all my relationships with others, not impede them by selfish demands for happiness.
Psalm 1:2 talks about “delighting in the law of the Lord and meditating on it both day and night.” Meditating is deep thinking. Let’s use this comparison; you work hard to make a delicious cake and then put some icing on to complement the cake. You invite me over and set a piece of cake in front of me, and I proceed to eat the icing and then leave without ever touching the cake. You would most likely be horrified! I had taken the icing, but I completely left all the delicious cake, which would have been far better for me. I think sometimes God feels like this by the way we read the Bible. We read it and skim off the top and conclude we should live a good life because Heaven is far more favorable then Hell in eternity. In other words, we want just enough of the Bible to make us “happy,” by ensuring a positive and favorable experience in eternity. Are we so busy licking off the icing that we aren’t digging deeper into the cake? We should be joyfully digging into the full message of scripture. Am I truly excited and full of joy to live out life as God commands and advance His Kingdom? When I am treated despitefully, am I joyful in the way Jesus taught on forgiveness? Or do I simply submit to a “law” that prevents me seeking revenge? Do others see I am serving out of joy or are they sorry for me that I live under many “rules”? The more I study the Bible, the more beautiful it becomes. I find it most fascinating that I still have so much to learn, and I want to remain excited to read it more.
Hebrews 12:2- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
How does one stay joyful? I find that the most important thing for me to stay on course in this life is to never lose my “awe of God.” For years I really didn’t see the use of the Old Testament, except that it has some interesting stories for children. However, now I see that by reading the Bible as a whole we can get a clearer picture who God is. God is “Holy” and limitless in his capabilities, and he cares for each person. Now that is something to be joyful about! Jesus not only went to the cross, but he went with JOY! How does one do that with joy? The way I see it, his love for us was so powerful that even the pain and shame of the cross was a joy for him, because he saw the great benefit for us and saved us from death. How does that compare with me being annoyed that there are even more children at the door asking for water or that a friend comes to visit me when I had already scheduled time to myself? If I am truly a Christian (a “little Christ”) and not a “Kentian,” (a “preserver of Kent’s personal agenda”), then I had better start being like the Author of my faith. And what did he do? If he was willing to suffer for others, then he must expect me to as well.
John 15:10-12 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Verse 11 says our joy shall be full if we keep his commandments; what is his commandment? We should love one another. How much should we love one another? As much as Jesus loves us! I can’t answer for you, but I still have a lot of work to do. I don’t believe it is possible to truly love everyone unconditionally without God’s Spirit inside of us. But in Acts we read that His Spirit is here! We have all we need to live a Christ centered life.
~ A Kingdom Channels Staff Member
