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.”

Every Man Has His Price

By Jeff Curtis

In Job chapter 1 we read that delivered a terrible blow to the man Job, then Satan returned to tempt him. After Jesus was tempted by Satan in Luke 4, we read, that the devil “left Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). There is no doubt Jesus was tempted by the evil one throughout His ministry, which culminated in His passion. We can only imagine the intensity of such temptations as Jesus resolved to do the Father’s will while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, while being tried before Pilate, and while suffering on the cross on Golgotha.

Satan assumed that Job would sacrifice all that he possessed (children, servants, flocks, and herds) in order to spare his own life (Job 2:4). In other words, Satan was accusing Job of being self-centered and self-preserving. It is sometimes said today that “every man has his price.” The idea is that a person will compromise his integrity if the rewards are great enough. However, such gains are only temporary and soon fade away. Jesus reframed the issue by asking these questions; “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). As Christians, we must make ethical choices based upon what pleases God, rather than what seems “profitable” from a worldly point of view. Like Jesus, we must be willing to sacrifice (even our lives) for the truth.

Satan continues to attack us today, seeking “an opportune time.” He attacks when we are weak and vulnerable. That is why we are encouraged to “be on alert” (1Peter 5:8). James wrote, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). The Christian life is a spiritual battle in which continual vigilance and the proper battle gear are essential to success (Ephesians 6:10-20).