Man has pursued joy in every avenue imaginable. Some have successfully found it while others have not. Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found:
- Not in Unbelief — Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”
- Not in Pleasure — Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.”
- Not in Money — Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
- Not in Position and Fame — Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”
- Not in Military Glory — Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, before he said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”1
So, where can joy be found? Galatians 5:22 has the answer. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith…” If I want an apple, I have to get it from an apple tree. If I want grapes, I have to get them from a grape vine. Fruit always comes from a source. Joy is described as fruit. The source of that fruit is the Holy Spirit. The only way to get the Holy Spirit is to know Jesus Christ as Savior.
Romans 15:13 says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” That sums it up concisely! But is that what the world wants to hear? Is that how they are pursuing joy?
The great theologian and Biblical scholar, Oprah Winfrey – cue the eyeroll and note the sarcasm – has a website called Oprah Daily where she posts items she believes will be helpful to making our lives better. An article by Melissa Goldberg was titled Exactly How to Find Joy Today—and Every Day. Suggestions for joy included: strike up a conversation with friends, family members, and even strangers; make a “joy” list; give a little; be kinder; add some color to your home (replace dull colors with bright ones); exercise; savor the moment; get houseplants; go outside; be grateful; skip the negative news; invest in time-saving services; clear your mind.2
None of those things are inherently wrong. But they will not bring joy. Happiness, yes – momentarily. Lasting joy – even temporary joy? No. Joy is a spiritual byproduct of the Holy Spirit and life in Christ. You cannot have genuine joy without God.
As Christians, if we want the joy to flourish in our lives, the Bible tells us exactly how to do it. And since this is the first day of the week and we spend it in church, why not think about making this a decision you make at the altar today. Psalms 16:11 says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
1https://bible.org/illustration/pursuit-joy
2https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/health/a32957825/how-to-find-joy/
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