The Encourager
“Joy and Christianity - by Jeff Curtis”
Joy and Christianity
By Jeff Curtis
Members of some religious groups talk about how happy they are in the Lord. They make life sound joyous and carefree. Certainly, the Lord wants us to be “blessed” (Matthew 5:3-11), which some have interpreted to mean “happy,” but that is stretching its meaning somewhat. It is a shallow and false religion which thinks one must always wear a smile, showing no indication of burdens, sorrow, or chastening in his life. Under the influence of such thinking, some churches have adopted the motto “We always have a celebration” in order to keep the congregation happy and attract more members. People can deceive themselves into acting happy when they are not.
True blessedness comes after acknowledging our poverty of spirit and mourning over it (Matthew 5:3-4). It comes after learning to bear our cross (Matthew 16:24). We are to mourn now: “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep” (Luke 6:25). At times there may be little to rejoice about, with all the chastening we receive by God’s permission. Of course, there is also to be a type of false morbidity. Some people think they look more pious by appearing sad, but that is not real Christianity either.
Since “discipleship… seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful” (Hebrews 12:11), we think we must appear joyful. If we could be perfectly righteous, this might be expected of us by God, but He knows the greatest spiritual benefits come from temporary times of suffering.
The highest joy comes from recognizing that our suffering brings benefits from God and knowing that it is temporary compared to our eternal joy (2Corinthians 4:16-17). First, we should dwell on the “utterly sinful” (“exceeding sinful,” ASV) deeds that may permeate our lives and the world around us (Romans 7:13). Without this step, further progress toward joyful salvation cannot be ours. No wonder Jesus put “mourning” before anything else in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:4).
We need not count it as a weakness to mourn over our sorrows and losses. We sorrow, but “not as do the rest who have no hope” (1Thessalonians 4:13). It is not a weakness to grow more as humble children. Joy follows for those who suffer and are trained by it to reap the fruit.
The problem is that things are not always as they seem. The author of the Hebrew letter didn’t say that our present suffering will turn into a life of laughter and jubilation, but that it will result in “peaceful fruit” (Hebrews 12:11). A calm assurance of peace will come from our tested and tried faith. What luscious fruit that is. Then, by faith, we will prevent our problems from interfering with that peace.
Meditate on this:
1 Kings 22:5
Also, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”
