THE PURSUIT OF JOY

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

                Yesterday was Independence Day. It was a day to celebrate the birth of our nation. On July 4^th, 1776, the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Continental Congress. After the preamble, of this significance document, the next paragraph begins with these oft quoted words. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has become a sort of American battle cry. Because people define the sentiment of this phrase differently, every stripe of political party has claimed it as their own.

                For some time our nation has been fragmented into often adversarial groups. It seems like the fabric that was woven together back in 1776 is unraveling. The sense of patriotic pride that once held us together in the past has all but drained away. It has been replaced by a cynical pessimism, which has left a dark cloud hanging over our collective heads.

                If I have pained a dark enough picture, let me shine some light into the darkness. Yesterday, we hosted a cookout at our home. Nineteen people of various ages assembled for a time of food, fun, and fellowship. During the several hours that we were together, new connections were made, existing connections were affirmed, and laughter filled the air. When the gathering finally broke up, everyone left with a smile of their face and a little more joy in their heart. That gathering, and many others like it, was a tangible example of what our Founding Fathers meant by life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is not about warring political parties or conflicting systems of government. It is about the freedom to gather together and share life with one another without fear or apprehension.

                The principle of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is not specifically stated in the Bible, although its roots are firmly established in its soil. What is explicitly stated in Scripture is a much higher goal; the pursuit of joy. Joy in the Lord is the theme of the entire book of Philippians. Throughout the book, Paul challenges us to pursue joy. The heart of his argument is found in Philippians 4:4-7. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

                The foundational truth that we need to understand is that real joy is found in our relationship with the Lord. Happiness is based on our circumstances. When our circumstances change, our feelings of happiness change. Genuine joy transcends our circumstances. It is based on our relationship with Christ. The more that we grow in our relationship with Christ, the more our joy increases. This joy is present, even when our circumstances are not great.

                Experiencing the joy of the Lord is a choice that we make, which depends upon what we focus our minds on. If we choose to focus on the negative circumstances of life, we will rob ourselves of our joy. But if we keep our minds focused on Christ and what He has done for us, we can experience joy even in negative circumstances. Paul tells us to train our minds to focus on God’s goodness. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

                Pursuing the joy of the Lord will transform our lives. If we will take the things that disturb, upset, and confound us and lay them at the feet of Jesus, He will replace them with something far stronger; His peace. The peace of Christ is a sense of well-being that sinks deep within our soul. It gives us the strength to face any challenge that life throws at us, with confidence and courage. Why? Because our hope is in the Lord. Paul faced circumstances that most of us will never have to encounter, yet he was unwavering. He had found the source of his strength in Christ. And so he could write, I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

                The pursuit of happiness can be addictive. Because it is based on changing circumstances, it requires greater and greater input and diversity to satisfy. But that feeling of happiness is transient and lasts only for a short time. The pursuit of joy is additive. It draws us along toward a closer relationship with Christ, adding to our current joy. It has a genuinely cumulative effect that is building toward an ultimate culmination in His presence. So Paul encourages us to actively pursue the joy of the Lord.

Philippians 3:1

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.