Today’s Passage: “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” I John 1:4
Today’s lesson continues our study of the fruit of the Spirit. Previously, we studied what love is and what it is not. Today our lesson focuses on the precious fruit of “joy”.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes joy as “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.” As evidenced by this definition, the world’s view of joy is often linked to physical well-being, financial success or the amount of possessions one owns. While these things may create a temporary feeling of euphoria, they cannot sustain us for long. When a person’s sense of joy is determined by his possessions and wealth, he eventually wants more of both. He may spend his life chasing after material things only to find that he has been “grasping for the wind” as the sinner in Ecclesiastes 2:26: “For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”
Because material possessions are not eternal, they are subject to disappearing. Property value may decrease or the stock market may crash. Thieves may steal our valuable belongings. Our home and possessions may literally go up in smoke. And our health may decline although we have taken great care to eat responsibly and exercise regularly.
If the Bible’s definition of joy is merely a happy feeling based on one’s lot in life or his possessions, we would find a contradiction in the following Scriptures: “Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” and “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Certainly someone who is poor in spirit or mourning is not feeling happy emotions, and yet the word “blessed” here is synonymous with “happy.” How can we be happy and joyful when we are in the midst of trials? And if joy is directly related to the number of things we have, are all who possess great fortunes happy? Conversely, is joy then unattainable to the poor? .
In order to determine God’s definition of joy, we must search the Scriptures. Jesus warned a man who wanted half of his brother’s inheritance to “take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15.) We see that Jesus’ perception of joy was not related to the amount of earthly possessions one owns.
In Matthew 6:19-20 we learn that we should build up treasures in a place where they will not be destroyed or stolen. We are to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth. By seeking the things of God first, we will receive the things that we need (Matthew 6:33.) While we may not get everything we want (which is likely not good for us anyway), we can be assured that God will take care of our daily needs.
Joy is something that must be continually developed through deep study of the Word of God and through prayer. When we truly love God, we will naturally love the things of God. We must take care that our joy is not a fleeting emotion based on circumstance but that it is built upon a deep, daily, permanent commitment to the Lord. In the parable of the sower, seed was spread along various types of ground. Some seed sprang up quickly as Christians often do when they are excited about the gospel (Matthew 13:20.) Yet if we are not deeply rooted in the Word, Jesus teaches that we will stumble when we face tribulation and persecution as evidenced by the seed sown on stony ground. We will lose our joy and become disheartened because of our trials if our joy is based merely on circumstance.
Spiritual joy is not a quick flash of emotion that just as quickly dissipates in the face of adversity. Instead, godly joy is that which is felt in our core and which sustains us no matter what we face. Paul and Silas modeled tremendous joy when they were beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. In Philippians 16:25, we read that they were praying and singing hymns to God at midnight while their feet were fastened in stocks in a prison cell. They were certainly not in a pleasant circumstance, yet what a beautiful example is portrayed of Christian joy. Paul described his overall outlook during persecutions in this manner: “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4.)
Peter and the apostles were arrested not once but twice for preaching about Christ. Yet they continued to spread the gospel “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41.) And Job, upon learning of the death of his children and his possessions and servants in one day, immediately fell down on the ground and worshipped God. Though Job faced the most difficult situation he had ever faced and was in deep mourning, he did not allow the circumstance to destroy His joy and hope in the Lord.
These examples and others from God’s Word teach us that true joy is not based on our physical possessions or our lot in life. We can be joyful no matter how poor or lonely or handicapped or persecuted we are. James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2.) If we stop reading here, we may think this impossible; yet by reading further, we learn how we can be joyful: “…knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Our joy does not come from the emotions we feel during our trials but from the faith that God will help us through our trials and the hope that if we bear persecution for Christ, we will grow in patience and spiritual maturity.
It is good for us to remember that if our joy is based upon God’s promises and we are obedient to His commandments, no one can take away our joy. No matter what happens to our physical body, if our soul is right with God, we will receive the blessings that He has promised for His children. We can say as the Psalmist did: “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:11.)
Dear sisters, if we can believe completely that God is in control of all things and that His promises are true, nothing we face can destroy our joy. We may not laugh all of the time, for there will be days in which we mourn the loss of a loved one or suffer from an illness. Yet we can still feel the joy of the Lord in our lives. Expecting to laugh all of the time is an unrealistic goal. Jesus cried when He saw the anguish of Lazarus’ sisters and friends (John 11:35) and He experienced great agony as He faced the tremendous trial of taking our sins upon Himself at Calvary (Luke 22:44.)
No, joy is not laughing and feeling giddy all of the time. If it were, we would not be encouraged to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those that weep” (Romans 12:15.) As Christian women, we should care enough for others that we hurt when they are hurting. We must share not only in others’ joy but also in their heartaches.
In closing, let us consider what have we learned about the Bible’s definition of joy. Spiritual joy is the feeling of appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice and the comforting feeling that comes from God’s love for us. Spiritual joy is what keeps a Christian going when it seems that the world is crashing around him. The joy of the Lord makes us rise in the morning after a night of weeping (Psalm 30:5.) And Christian joy is what makes us shout, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24.)
If your relationship with God is not what it should be because you have not become a Christian in the manner in which the Bible teaches, I beseech you to be saved and cast off the shackles of sin and the fear of Judgment. No matter how “good” a person is, it is not enough to be saved without obedience to God’s commandments. Jesus Christ said, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6.)
Or if you are an erring Christian who has not repented of the sin in your life, please come back to the Lord and His church. The Father is waiting for you to return, just as the father awaited the return of his lost son in Luke 15 and ran to embrace him when he saw him from a distance. As the woman who found her lost coin rejoiced, so also will our Lord rejoice when you are obedient to His Word. “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10.)
Dear sisters, may you all feel the joy that the Lord freely bestows on all His faithful children. Have a wonderful rest of the week!
