Joy: The Serious Business of Heaven
Have you ever noticed that Christians are often the grumpiest, angriest, most fearful people you meet, especially online? I certainly have. Despite the Bible telling us that as followers of Christ, we're supposed to be filled with joy and hope, something seems to be leaking in our Christianity. As Billy Sunday once said, "If you have no joy, there's a leak in your Christianity somewhere."
The Language of Heaven
In the book of Judges, the Israelites asked God which tribe should be first to enter the promised land. The Lord replied, "The tribe of Judah needs to go first" (Judges 1:1-2). This may seem like an obscure detail, but it's important because Judah means "praise." It's a beautiful picture that as followers of Christ, we need to lead with praise because before the battle, before the breakthrough, praise goes first.
This is our call as believers. Not to walk in grumbling, but to walk in gratitude. Not to be the darkest voice in the room, but rather to be the loudest shout of joy in the midst of all the negativity, cynicism, division, and polarization that we see around us. Why? Because we have a hope that others simply don't have.
The Kingdom of Joy
In 1 Kings 4:20, we read about Solomon's kingdom: "The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They ate, they drank, and they were happy." When was the last time you heard a sermon on that verse? When was the last time that sentence described your home?
The passage continues in verses 24-25: "For Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates river from Tifsha to Gaza, and there was peace on all sides... During Solomon's lifetime, Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree."
This is the promise of the kingdom - not the absence of conflict, but the presence of peace. A Biblical definition of peace is this: Peace is the finished work of God residing in my heart. This is peace above circumstances, despite financial situations, despite illness or diagnosis.
How to Reclaim Joy in Your Life
1. Choose Contentment
Joy is not a feeling that we chase but a decision that we make. The apostle Paul wrote, "Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, keep on rejoicing in the Lord" (Philippians 4:4). Isn't it interesting that Paul penned these very words from inside a prison cell?
In the Scriptures, joy always shows up right next to suffering. "For the joy set before him, he endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). Joy isn't the absence of pain. It is the presence of God.
This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life because my dad passed away four days ago. There's something so strange about losing a parent. One of the two people that gave me my name is now gone. And yet, standing here today, I can honestly say that Paul's words are true. I'm not talking about pretending everything is fine—I've cried a lot this week. But there is a deeper current underneath this grief, a settled joy that God is still good.
Your joy is your job. No one else's, just yours. We love to outsource our joy, saying things like, "They put me in a bad mood" or "Traffic made me angry." But nobody "put" you anywhere. You chose to go to the mood that was suggested to you.
2. Find Your Vine
Remember, a vine is a picture of shelter. It symbolizes shade and relief from the heat. What is your vine? What is that thing that refreshes your soul, that gets you out of the heat of the everyday struggle?
I'm not talking about vacations. I'm talking about the small, regular, everyday things that can bring you relief and joy. Maybe it's your favorite show, watching your grandkids, going for a walk, reading a good book, or quiet time with Scripture and coffee.
Find your vine before your soul runs dry. Joy isn't automatic, rest isn't accidental, and peace isn't optional.
3. Leave a Legacy
Make it about more than just yourself. If we make our lives purely about the pursuit of our own happiness, then somehow happiness remains elusive. But if we seek to bring joy to others, then joy becomes ours as well.
This is the paradox of the Christian faith: "Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it" (Luke 17:33). When you pour out, God pours back in. When you seek to bless others, you end up being more blessed yourself.
Putting It Into Practice
We get one life. One shot at this. One story. How will you live yours here on earth? Will you live it for yourself or for generations to come? Will you live in fear or in faith? In crisis or in Christ? In selfishness or in service? In jeopardy or in joy?
Choose contentment despite the circumstances. Find your vine—that thing that brings relief. And leave a legacy that extends beyond yourself.
Remember, joy is the serious business of heaven. Don't let it leak out of your Christianity.