A Better Eightfold Path, Part 1 Series

Some misguided people believe it is the role of our federal government to make us happy and keep us happy. Our Declaration of Independence does mention three inalienable rights given to us. But these are given to us by our Creator, NOT by our government. And these three rights are not life, liberty, and happiness. They are life, liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness.

And pursue it we do! Americans devote much of their time and energy trying to find happiness. Many surveys have asked Americans, “What is it that you most want in life?” And an overwhelming majority of Americans answer: “I want to be happy.” Then the survey often follows up with this question, “What would it take to make you happy?” The #1 answer to that question is “I don’t know.”

What people need is JOY not happiness. Happiness comes from the word “hap,” which means “luck” or “happenings.” Happiness rises and falls with what happens in your life, but joy remains constant regardless of what happens. Joy is an inner attitude of cheer that manifests itself through outward celebration.

Joy is an important word in the Bible. Joy appears 158 times and “rejoice” appears another 198 times. In the Old Testament there are 27 different colorful words to describe joy. Some of the basic meanings are to “run around with delight;” “to shine like the brightness of the sun.”

When missionaries to the Eskimos in Northern Alaska were trying to translate the Bible into their language, they discovered there was no Eskimo word for “joy.” So the missionaries looked to see what the most delightful experience in the village was. They discovered the happiest, most joyful moments were in the evenings when they fed their sled dogs. The dogs would leap and wag their tails and yelp for joy—this made the Eskimos smile as well. They used that experience to translate the word joy. In Luke, where it says, “After the resurrection, the disciples saw Jesus and were full of joy.” In the Eskimo translation it reads, “When the disciples saw Jesus, they wagged their tails with delight.”

Are you rejoicing in the Lord? Here’s a test. Sometime this afternoon or this week, find someone who is close to you, your spouse or a good friend. Ask them, “When was the last time you saw me really rejoice?”

It’s easy to be elated when something great happens to you. When the Miami Heat came back and beat the San Antonio Spurs, the players were running around and jumping for joy. They were hugging each other and LeBron James was rolling around on the floor. But the thing that makes Christian joy unique is that we can maintain this joy even when things are going wrong. We can rejoice even in the midst of our suffering. Paul wrote, “We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.” (Romans 5:2-4 HCSB)