MEDITATIONS ON CHRISTIAN JOY – Part Three
Living a joyful life is our heritage as Christians. We read, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). “Joyfully draw water from the well of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). Jesus explained to his disciples that his teaching should lead to joy. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11; see also John 17:13).
But what is this joy? Roget’s Thesaurus lists as synonyms for joy: happiness, delight, euphoria, high spirits, gladness, bliss, glee, elation, cheer, jubilance, rapture, transport with antonyms as; misery, depression, desolation, and despair.
High spirits? Glee? Euphoria? In some Christian circles, we are expected to demonstrate a joyful countenance to show that we are rejoicing in the Lord. I think joy is far deeper. It is rooted in an awareness of the panoply of redemptive graces that God pours into our lives through Christ. It can, and probably should, lead to a feeling of bliss, of gladness, of elation, of rapture, or of euphoria.
However, since we are to grow in grace, the full expression of our joy may develop over time. And with our different personalities and upbringings, we may express ourselves differently. Surely, we should aim to daily draw up copious amounts of joy from the inexhaustible well of salvation. That is our heritage. But we should not force a certain kind of joyful expression on others. We cannot whip it up. Manipulation is a very hurtful tactic. Let’s draw attention to the well and pray for one another that we may know more and more “the joy of the Lord” without signally that membership in our group requires a certain outward expression.
In this series, as the Lord leads, I want to consider joy as it relates to a full-orbed understanding of salvation and being assured we are saved, joy as it relates to being part of a Christian community, joy and suffering, joy and faith in God’s sovereignty, joy and faith in God’s character, joy and contentment, joy and meaningful service, and joy and love among other subjects.
But before I leave this post, there is one aspect that we tend to neglect because we are warned that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Christian joy is far more enthralling than the tastiest steak or the most exquisite wine.
But a misreading of the balance of Scripture has led many in church history to over-emphasize asceticism and self-denial of anything that might be enjoyable. As if refusing to enjoy the gifts of the Creator somehow makes one more holy or more devoted. Yes, there is a time for prayer and fasting. But there is also a time for feasting as we see in the instituted feasts of Israel.
Our pastor, in his series on Ecclesiastes pointed out in chapter nine a recurring theme. Since life is unpredictable and will end in death, we should enjoy what God provides in the days we are given. “Go eat your food with gladness, and drink you wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do. …anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun…whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10). [For an understanding of “meaningless” in the book, I’d suggest you go to a good commentary.] God did not create a world of luscious fruits, meaningful work, and marriage for these gifts to be spurned! He expects his children to enjoy his gifts, while knowing that salvation is the greatest gift of all. Yes, there is a measure of joy in these other gifts also.
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