Join in the Joy
Through the years, I have frequently preached about joy. It is more than an emotion (although it includes emotion); rather, it is a settled attitude, a stable and sturdy approach to life that focuses us on the things that matter now and forever. Joy is much greater and much more powerful than happiness, which is event or circumstance driven. There is nothing wrong with happiness. It is certainly better than unhappiness. Also, we have different personalities. For example, my wife is happy-go-lucky. Of course, she has every reason to be, being married to me. However, not everyone can be married to me. We need something more substantial than happiness; that something is joy. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Mutual joy in the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a wonderful – and real – thing. Paul speaks of this kind of shared joy in Philippians 1:25-26. Paul has already spoken of his joy in verse 4 and again in verse 18, as we have seen in the last two days. However, Paul did not believe that he was more spiritual, more joyful, than his friends in Philippi. As an apostle, Paul rightly used his authority to edify other believers; the abuse of any such authority is a great and grievous sin. Paul never suggested, for example, that he had a monopoly on joy. Rather, he anticipates a “more abundant” joy when he and the Philippians would be together again. He speaks of their “joy of faith,” indicating that he deeply respected the sincerity of their trust in Jesus Christ. No, Paul has no interest in making anyone feel inferior; instead, he earnestly desires that all of God’s people will increasingly apprehend and appreciate all of the goodnesses of God, including His joy. As we labor alongside each other, may we grow in group gratitude; let us abound and astound in joined joy.