In that previous posting, I noted that the fruit of the Spirit in this passage is a singular noun, because the various pieces of the fruit all go together to make up the whole fruit. Love...(joy omitted), peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control DO NOT make up the fruit of the Spirit any more than a grape can be made up of all its components but the skin or the flesh (meso-carp).
Joy is an integral part of the fruit of the Spirit. From the joy of the Magi when they saw the star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:10) to the joy of Jesus which he petitioned the Father to give to His disciples (John 17:13), the Gospels overflow with joy.
"What is joy?" you might ask. How is it different from happiness. I am happy sometimes when I am in church, is that the joy we are talking about? Can there be joy in suffering, when we are seldom happy to suffer? Good questions, which deserve answers.
Joy is defined as "a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment." (Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition 2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009). To be sure, we have a tendency to use "joy" and "happiness" synonymously, but the definition above bears scrutiny.
First of all, joy is described as a "deep feeling or condition." This is not just a passing emotion, but rather it is a life condition, a status, if you will. It is a "deep" seated condition of "happiness or contentment." The word contentment here is appropriate. The same Collins English Dictionary defines "content" as "mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are."
Well, I don't know about you, soldier, but my life is ever-changing. Things happen. Some of them are not so wonderful. How can I be "mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are" if they are not so hot? James tells us, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials..." (James 1:2, emphasis added) Is this man nuts? (Martin Luther might have said so, but that is another story!) How can I count it all joy when I fall into various trials? Trials don't make me happy.
Now remember, we are talking about a deep condition of being mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are. Where can that condition of contentment come from, because it certainly doesn't come from having the brakes go out on my car or from losing my job? James goes on to say, "...knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (verse 3)
Ahhh! Now we are getting somewhere. It is not the trial itself that gives me joy, but rather the knowledge that the trial (of my faith) will produce patience. But isn't patience another one of the components of the fruit of the Spirit? Yes it is. We will address that in a future post. For now, suffice to say that the nature of joy is that it is not dependent on the circumstances of the moment.
The elation we feel when the tax refund arrives or when someone says nice things about us is happiness. But centering our lives on happiness is a sure road to disappointment. Happiness is fleeting. Let's check in with Collins Dictionary again: "Happiness: feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased."
Now it is true that Collins uses the word joy to define happiness, but notice that happiness is "feeling, showing, or expressing" joy. It is in the moment, for none of us shows or expresses joy continually. Happiness is not a condition but an emotion, that is, "any strong feeling, as of joy, sorrow, or fear." (Collins) Joy, on the other hand, is a condition of contentment.
How can we have a condition of contentment, in the face of the trials about which James exhorts us? Remember, we are talking about the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus promised, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17) The word translated "Helper" in this passage is the Greek "Parakletos," which means:
in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant:
of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom (http://odl.mdivs.edu/isb/)(This source also refers to Christ's taking the role of our legal assistant or defense counsel.)
How can we have joy in trials? We have a defense Counsel before the Most High God. We have a Helper, Succourer, Aider, Assistant to lead us to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth and give us strength...on behalf of the divine kingdom.
Paul echoes this sentiment in 1 Thessalonians 1:
5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.The Thessalonians became examples to others so that the kingdom of God might grow. This in itself is a source of joy to the true believer, but the knowledge of "Christ within you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are the true source of our joy.
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. (vs. 5-7, emphasis added).
Sergeant, let us "seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
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