Mainsville United Brethren in Christ

Growing . . . Together

Joy

When I had the opportunity to speak here back in July I was pleased by how well received I was.  While I didn’t know what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised by the joy that I found here.  I found that among many here, there is a genuine interest in hearing the word of God preached.  In many churches there isn’t this much interest.  I have found from personal experience that many people have become disinterested in church.  Many people chow up for church because of tradition or the feel that they have to.  Many people have lost the joy of hearing God’s word.

Joy is a difficult thing for the Christian to grasp.  We often confuse joy with happiness as well.  There are many things in life that can make us unhappy.  We have problems in our relationships, with friends and family, and we become unhappy.  We have difficulty at work, or worse yet, we may even lose our job, and we lose our happiness.  Or perhaps worst of all, we may have problems with our own health, leading to complications that cause pain, cost money, require medical attention, or maybe even threaten our very life.  And of course we are not happy about this.

However, no matter what our circumstances are, we should not lose our joy.  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5 lists the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  All of these are marks of a true Christian.  As Christians, we should have joy.  Not only should joy be evident in our lives, it should always be evident.

Paul writes in 1 Thes 5:16-17, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  This is very tough to do.  It is easy to be joyful when things are going our way.  When we’re safe and well fed and getting along with our family and friends it is easy to be joyful.  But we’re not asked to just be joyful when things are going well.  We are asked to be joyful at all times. 

Not only are we to be joyful, we are told to give thanks at all times.  Some of you may not think that you have much to be thankful for.  I won’t claim to know or understand all that some of you have gone through.  Some of you have lost jobs.  Some of you have dealt with problems with drugs and alcohol.  Some have overcome great physical or emotional problems.  And some are still struggling everyday.

But no matter how bad things are for you tonight, you still have reasons to be thankful.  Tonight you are alive while so many people lie in the hospital clinging to life.  Tonight you have food to eat and a place to stay while so many people do not.  And most importantly tonight and every night you have a God who loves you, who wants to forgive you for your sins, and is waiting for you with open arms.  These are great reasons to be thankful.

The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:12,  “I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Paul had a privileged upbringing.  He studied under Gamaliel, the most prominent Jewish teacher of the day.  He rose quickly among the ranks of the Pharisees and held the respect of all the Jews.  All of this changed when he became a Christian however. 

There were times when Paul lived a comfortable life as an apostle.  Other times he did without food and shelter.  Paul lived a very rough life.  In many places, he was run out of town by people who didn’t like the message he was preaching.  Other places he was beaten and left for dead.  He was ship wrecked three times.  He was thrown into prison numerous times.  Paul met his end when he was beheaded.

If there was ever a man who served God faithfully enough that God should have spared him the troubles of life, it was Paul.  But Paul had a life filled with pain and heartache despite his service of God.

Paul could have been very bitter about his situation.  Certainly we could understand it if he was.  However, Paul still thanked God.  Paul was content.  Because Paul was content in his situation, he could find joy at all times, no matter how frustrating his circumstance may have been.