The Pursuit of Eternal Joy

Joy: Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

Joy: The biblical concept of joy (Hebrew: שִׂמְחָה, simchah sim·huh; Greek: χαρά, chara) goes beyond mere happiness, which can be fleeting and dependent on circumstances. Instead, biblical joy is contentment, peace, and happiness that comes from a relationship with God, regardless of the external circumstances.

mention in the bible over 200 times.

Joy in the biblical sense is often associated with:

- The presence of God: It is seen as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), indicating a deep, spiritual contentment found in living according to God's will and being in communion with Him.

- Faith and Salvation: Joy is frequently linked to the experience of salvation and the grace of God (Luke 15:7, Acts 8:8).

- Endurance through trials: The Bible also speaks of joy as something believers can experience even in the midst of trials, as a result of trust in God and the hope of future glory (James 1:2-3, Romans 5:3-5).

The Temporary vs. The Eternal

The Bible speaks to this contrast between temporary pleasures and eternal joy. In Matthew 6:19-21 (CSB), Jesus tells us, "Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The things we often chase after and put our value in are temporary. They can be lost, stolen, or fade away. But when we focus on building our treasures in heaven—living a life that honors God, serving others, spreading love and kindness—we are investing in something that will never fade, something that brings eternal joy.

Refer to the Word Doc for the chart

The Illusion of Worldly Joy

It's important to recognize that while worldly pleasures can bring momentary happiness, they often leave us feeling empty and longing for more. This endless cycle of seeking happiness in the next big thing can be exhausting and unfulfilling.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (CSB) speaks to this emptiness, "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."

Finding Joy in Jesus

So, how do we break this cycle of chasing after temporary pleasures? How do we find true joy that fills our hearts and satisfies our souls? The answer is found in Jesus.

In John 15:11 (CSB), Jesus says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Jesus doesn't promise us a life without trouble or devoid of desire for worldly things. Instead, He offers us something much greater—His joy. This joy comes from a deep relationship with Him, from abiding in His love, and from living our lives in accordance with His will.

1. **Stay Close to Jesus**: Imagine Jesus as a friend who's always with you. Talking to Him through prayer, learning about His life by reading the Bible, and trying to act like Him in what you do every day helps keep this friendship strong. This special friendship with Jesus is where true happiness comes from—not from things we buy or temporary fun, but from feeling loved and peaceful inside because of this connection.

2. **Help and Love Others**: Think about how good it feels when you do something nice for someone else. Jesus taught us to be kind and helpful to others, just like He was. When we share, help, or be kind to people around us, it's like we're following Jesus' footsteps. This doesn't just make others happy; it makes us feel really good too, way more than just getting stuff for ourselves.

3. **Learn from Tough Times**: Everyone has hard times or problems sometimes. Jesus told us that even when things are tough, we can still find happiness in knowing He's with us. Instead of getting upset or giving up when something is hard, we can ask, "What can I learn?" or "How can I grow stronger from this?" With Jesus, we can find a special kind of happiness that comes from getting through tough times, not just when things are going easy.

The Call to Focus on Jesus

As we reflect on our lives and consider what we value most, let us remember the words of Colossians 3:2 (CSB), "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." This is a call to shift our focus, to prioritize our relationship with Jesus above all else. It's a reminder that our true joy comes not from the temporary pleasures of this world but from the eternal love and salvation that Jesus offers.

Conclusion

In closing, I urge each of you to examine what you're putting your value in. Are you chasing after temporary pleasures that leave you feeling empty? Or are you investing in your relationship with Jesus, where true, eternal joy is found?

Let us strive to focus on Jesus, to build our treasures in heaven, and to find our joy in Him. For in Jesus, we find not just temporary happiness, but a deep, fulfilling joy that lasts forever.

Amen.