Complete joy
‘It’s the season to be jolly’, or so the carol goes (Tra la la la la, la la, la la…). I’ve always wondered why this is the season to be joyful. Why can’t we be happy in June? I was born then. Surely that’s a good reason to celebrate?
But seriously, what makes this the season to be joyful? Maybe one of the obvious answers is because we get presents and have holidays and eat a lot. Those three things do, admittedly, make me happy. But then again it only lasts as long as the holiday or as long as the food is in my mouth. And since I don’t chew 21 times a mouthful and don’t have too much leave the season of happiness is over pretty quickly…
Obviously I don’t think it was meant to be that way. While happiness is fleeting, joy on the other hand, is everlasting. Real joy. The kind Jesus promised. The kind displayed in the lives of the apostles, which incidentally, was not season related. Heck it wasn’t externally related at all…
Paul and Silas singing ‘One Way’ in a prison cell. (OK maybe not One Way. But it was a hymn of praise…). Paul and Barnabas hop, skip and jumping away from Iconium after being dragged by the feet out of the city. As far as I can tell it wasn’t December and I’m assuming prison food is bad (if existent. I wouldn’t know), and they actually had stuff taken away from them (like all their clothes) as opposed to being given stuff. That sounds like real joy. A Holy Spirit kind of Joy. Which acts independent of anything external, coming only from within.
This is the joy Jesus was refferring to when he said: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my fathers commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:10-13).
It seems that according to Jesus, Real joy comes only through obedience to His commands. And more specifically to the command to love one another. And even more specifically with the kind of love that serves and gives and sacrifices and does everything possible for the benefit of others.
When Jesus, Savior of the world, was born in a manger in a stable, the message was clear: Things don’t happen with the kingdom of God like they happen in the world. Kings don’t get born in palaces, they get born in stables. And Happiness doesn’t come from getting it comes from giving.
And giving is not seasonal. In fact giving doesn’t have to be material at all. To lay down one’s life isn’t close to the same thing as laying down one’s wallet. It’s the kind of lifestyle that should be practiced all year round, which if it is indeed practiced all year round, would lead to fulness of joy, all year round.
If anything then, it’s the season to be joyful only because it marks the day Christ came to earth, and set before us ultimate joy in the knowledge that we are His now, and forever to eternity.
I wish you all complete, real joy throughout this festive season and continuing through the year(s) ahead.