The Meaning of Joy

The following is a guest column by Allan C. Emery, Jr., a businessman affiliated with Servicemaster in Boston, Massachusetts.

C. s. lewis in his autobiography, Surprised by Joy, writes, “Joy is never in our power and pleasure is. I doubt whether anyone who has tasted joy would ever, if both were in his power, exchange it for all the pleasure in the world.”

The word joy is not often on our tongues today, but it was very much a part of the writing of Bible authors. Have we, as Christians today, lost the experience of joy? The Lord Jesus Christ places great value upon joy when he says in John 5:11, “These things have I spoken with you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” A purpose of Christ’s ministry was to impart his joy to us. It is to be a gift to the Christian and a characteristic of the Christian. It is a life purpose, and it is to be an eternal destiny.

What is joy? It is the prospect of possessing what we love. It is a sense of gladness and delight. It is a free happiness. It is an inner peace flavored with purpose and accomplishment. Christian joy does not depend on external circumstances. In Hebrews 12:2 we read, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” It is difficult to see joy in the Cross, but Christ’s purpose was through and beyond the Cross to provide redemption for lost humanity.

The Apostle Paul at the tearful farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus explains the certainty of bonds and afflictions awaiting him in Jerusalem but states, “None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

One must have a Christian life purpose to know the depths of joy. In Galatians 5:22 we read that joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. The benediction in Jude 24 begins, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.…” Joy becomes available upon request to any Christian, promised to him by the Lord Jesus: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. How exciting it is to know that our Creator wants us to have joy now and throughout eternity, and that he will provide us with it.

During World War II, as a junior officer on a frigate, I visited a South Sea island for the first time. This island was far from the tourist trade, and I remember the amazement of the islanders who visited our wardroom and saw ice for the first time. We explained that it was water so cold that it had become solid. They were unbelieving at first, and when the ice in a glass melted they were afraid to drink it until they saw us do it. They asked about our land, and we told them about snow and fog and cold—things they had never experienced. Finally we realized that we must explain by telling them what we did not have that was common to them. Only then did they begin to see a bit of what New England was like.

Perhaps this principle may help us think about joy. It is not the acquisition of things—a rich man can be miserable and a poor man filled with joy. It is not security. It is not pleasure. It is not power. It is not fame. It is not status. It is not popularity. It is not freedom from problems.

Joy is: freedom from guilt. Freedom to serve. Freedom from anxiety. Freedom to love. Freedom to be yourself. Freedom to be needed. Freedom to give. Freedom to belong. Freedom to burn out for God.

Joy comes as a by-product of a life commitment to Jesus Christ. When you accept Jesus’ invitation to live a life with him and for him, he gives you a purpose, a destiny, power, love, and joy.

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