Joy Or Happiness?

What’s the difference between joy and happiness? Happiness is transient, self-centered, and circumstantial. Joy is an inner feeling of peace that passes understanding (Phil. 4:7). It is not dependent on externals. It is fed by righteous living, knowing where you’ll append eternity, and having a commitment to serving others. It will carry over into eternity. Happiness can accompany righteous living. But it’s a by-product, not a goal. It is often a façade accompanied by pressure, fear, and insecurity because it’s based on temporal pleasures which are “destined to perish with use” (Col. 2:22).

In my book, Christ in Men…Today, there’s a whole week on Joy. Here are just three of the daily headings:

Joy comes from knowing our eternal destination

Joy is a choice in the midst of trials

Joy is trusting God in the dark

It’s been said that money cannot buy happiness,

and that we can’t take it with us. It’s true because the source of our happiness is momentary, fleeting, and is based on circumstances over which we have little to no control. Happiness is reactive to outside stimuli. For example, we (or our boss) set goals. We believe that meeting them will provide lasting happiness. I was fairly successful in my sales career. But I’ve had bosses who had the mentality of “Yeah, but what have you done for me today?” Poof. More pressure to meet the next goal.

Life is short; literally, here today, gone tomorrow. If we haven’t tied our goals to something that will never change, we’re destined for disappointment. If we’re depending on politics for our happiness, and our candidate loses, or the “swamp” (as it’s been called) of Washington never seems to get drained, what do we have to smile about? Real joy doesn’t depend on which party is in office.

On the other hand,

if we “do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8), we will have joy knowing that the future is in God’s hands and whatever is happening in the world—wars, rumors of wars, famine, floods, etc.—is all part of His plan to someday call a stop and “separate the sheep from the goats” (Matt. 25:33) for all eternity.

It really comes down to focus. Is our life all about me, and we’ve overlooked or flat out denied God’s pursuit of us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and thereby forfeited the good things God has promised for those in His family? Or have we wondered what makes some of our friends different? They seem upbeat all the time. There’s always room for one more at the table. Listen to Jesus’ offer, “…the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). But we have to come to Him on His terms. Check out Steps To Salvation for a description of what those terms are.

Some thoughts on joy from Scripture:

• “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Ps. 30:56)
• “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.” (Ps. 126:5)
• “A joyful heart is good medicine.” (Prov. 17:22)
• “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2,3)
• “Nevertheless do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

What are you chasing today?

Thanks for reading.