Happy, Happy, Happy. . . Joy, Joy, Joy!
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1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
In recent weeks and months I have participated in a number of conversations, and read several articles, blogs and social media post, that have communicated one’s view of happiness and joy. Not surprising is that few of the opinions were in agreement with another. There was considerable diversity in the message being proclaimed.
One view was that happiness should be our primary goal. Life is too short to go on being sad, if people disagree with you, you should avoid them because it only puts a damper on your joy and your emotional health.
Another article suggested that God calls us to Holiness, not happiness. This of course is virtually the opposite of the first belief system I mentioned.
Another opinion was communicated in the form of blog, and it suggested that both of the previously two mentioned opinions were incorrect. This third option, I believe, is the most accurate view. Please allow me to explain the third view.
The biblical view, in my opinion, is that God indeed calls us to holiness, but that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t want us to be happy. Rather, He calls us to holiness, in order that we can be happy. When we are holy, we have joy. Even more so, when we, by God’s grace and in His strength are able to encourage other people to be holy, we experience Complete Joy.
Look at John’s words in 1:4
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
“Our Joy-
It’s Ours
It’s Ours
John says, “we are writing these things so that OUR JOY may be complete
Here, the point is that as were hear the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who John heard and saw and touched, and had fellowship with, we are able to join into that same fellowship, with the Father and His Son and His church, and that is so we can have Joy.
Joy
Joy
Happiness, Pleasure, Gladness, delight,
“Happy, Happy, Happy”- Duck Dynasty legend, Phil Robertson
Thomas Aquinas held the following views about human happiness:
Perfect happiness (beatitudo) is not possible in this lifetime, but only in the afterlife for those who achieve a direct perception of God.
There can be an imperfect happiness (felicitas) attainable in this lifetime, in proportion to the exercise of Reason (contemplation of truth) and the exercise of virtue.
Virtue is to be divided into two categories:
1) the traditional Aristotelian virtues of wisdom, courage, moderation, friendship, etc., and
2) the theological virtues revealed to man through Jesus Christ: faith, hope, and love.
There is an important distinction between enjoyment and happiness.
Enjoyment concerns satisfaction of worldly desire.
Happiness concerns obtaining our absolute perfection, which by definition can only be found in the absolute Being, which is God.
Socrates held these beliefs about happiness:
All human beings naturally desire happiness
Happiness is obtainable and teachable through human effort
Happiness is directive rather than additive: it depends not on external goods, but how we use these external goods (whether wisely or unwisely)
Happiness depends on the “education of desire” whereby the soul learns how to harmonize its desires, redirecting its gaze away from physical pleasures to the love of knowledge and virtue
Virtue and Happiness are inextricably linked, such that it would be impossible to have one without the other.
The pleasures that result from pursuing virtue and knowledge are of a higher quality than the pleasures resulting from satisfying mere animal desires. Pleasure is not the goal of existence, but rather an integral aspect of the exercise of virtue in a fully human life.
Complete Joy
Complete Joy
“Supercalifragilisticexpiali-joyous”
The apostle John learned about the extent of this joy, from Christ who spoke of “complete joy” We find some of Christ’s teaching “complete Joy” in and .
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:11
The completeness of our joy will be experienced in Heaven as Thomas Aquinas beleived.
“Perfect happiness (beatitudo) is not possible in this lifetime, but only in the afterlife for those who achieve a direct perception of God.”
Accomplished by Fellowship
Accomplished by Fellowship
Having fellowship with the Father and Son are awesome but John seems to suggest that for his joy to be complete, others must join in the fellowship with him as well. Some translations say, that “your” joy may be complete, rather than “our” joy at the end of verse 4. However, I believe it is best translated “our” meaning the collective joy between the Father, Son and all who believe in His name for Eternal life. John’s writing of this letter is to refute false teachers, and reassure the believers, and he desires for all those who profess Jesus as their Savior and Messiah to remain in the fellowship and to have eternal life.
Evidence of Faith
Evidence of Faith
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
This passage in Psalms illustrates the need for understanding and revelation of the Gospel but also the Joy of being in God’s presence, as a result.
Let’s review quickly what we have seen about the Joy that John addresses in verse 4 of his introduction:
It is “Our Joy”,
it is “Complete Joy” or “joy in the fullest”,
It is a result of Fellowship or is “accomplished by Fellowship”,
It is Evidence of Faith in Jesus Christ.
A Fruit of the Spirit
A Fruit of the Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
1Peter 1:
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
It’s Ours
It’s Ours
1
Returning to Joy-
Returning to Joy-
It is the 2nd “R” in R.A.R.E. leadership
Certain emotions are ones that God allows us to experience but seem to be intended only for short durations, while others are rarely, if ever discouraged. Joy is one of those rarely, if ever discouraged emotions.
Quote by Amiel,
“True, pure joy, consists in the union of the individual will with the Divine will, and in the faith that this supreme will is directed by love.”
In a number of languages ‘joy’ is expressed idiomatically, for example, ‘my heart is dancing’ or ‘my heart shouts because I am happy
In a number of languages ‘joy’ is expressed idiomatically, for example, ‘my heart is dancing’ or ‘my heart shouts because I am happy
John’s introduction is loaded with wonderful truth and encouragement, especially when we consider it in the lens of the full context of Scripture.
We need to be keenly cognizant of the wonderful work of the Incarnate Son of God, who is LOVE, and who is Light, and who has made fellowship with the Father possible for us. And we are told that when we are walking in fellowship with Him, Walking in the light, as He is in the light “our joy will be complete!!!
Will you have complete Joy? Will you experience the full extent of the Joy of Fellowship with the Father, The Son and the body of Christ?
Let me illustrate it this way. Have you ever been somewhere with a group of people and suddenly to you see several people looking in the same direction and they are smiling and pointing and laughing? What is your reaction when you see something like that? Do you look the other way? No! You look in the direction they are looking and try to figure out what is bringing smiles to their faces. Or if you are one of the first ones to see something joyous, or exciting and you are with a group of people, what is your response? (Like a Whale Watch) Do you sit their quietly, keeping the information to yourself? I hope not! NO! You tell the people, hey, look over there, there is a whale, or there is a really awesome looking sunset, or look at that cloud, it’s shaped like Whinny the Poo. Or Look at God the Father and His Son, look what they have done for you and me. Look at the sin, that Jesus washed away from my record. What a gracious, loving and merciful Savior. Oh, how He brings me JOY! This is the reason John wrote this letter, He has heard and seen and touched the precious lamb of God, who gave His life so that we could have fellowship with Him and the Father and with one another, and He is testifying of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that those who have believed in Christ, will not be drawn away by false teachers but will continue to believe and to walk with Christ and to have fellowship. This will bring to fruition “Our Complete Joy.”