Pleasing Pursuits
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6 NIV
Gifts – The Greeks recognized a connection between chairo (joy) and edone (pleasure). In later Greek thinking the two terms are barely distinguishable. Alignment with the deepest expression of joy is the truest sense of pleasure. Eric Liddell made the connection when he said that while he was running, he felt God’s pleasure. But there is more to this connection than simple, inward exuberance. The Hebraic contribution to our etymological history shows that sacred joy is something that always finds expression in relationship to others. Joy has a purpose that culminates in community, especially in the community of worship, a way of realizing satisfaction with the Creator. This is why the Old Testament claims that God Himself rejoices. The fulfillment of His purposes in the voluntary expression of His creation is immensely pleasant for all who participate. Joy points toward a time when there is no disparity between the desire of the heart and the expression of the hands. When all of God’s creation exhibits the undiluted purposes for which it was created, joy will reign supreme. Then work and worship will truly be one.
This linguistic connection underscores the essential quality of charismata, the manifestation of your personal essence in joyful celebration. When we are aligned with the natural gifting inherent within us, our expressions of that gifting create joy for us and for others. It does not matter if I am at the piano or the computer. It makes no difference if I am at home or at work. Allowing my natural gifting to propel my choice of activities will bring me into the joyful flow of the universe. I will manifest the world of God’s delight. In the process I discover that my uniqueness is only a part of a coordinated tapestry of symbiotic gifts. By exhibiting my inherent uniqueness, I provide others with the ability to exhibit what they were born to be. I discover that every true expression of my natural zone facilitates community. In this sense, joy is communal. It creates mutual fellowship with others and with the universe. When I am in the flow, things just seem right for me and for everyone else.
Hellenistic Greece considered joy a power, fraught with religious meaning and potency. We may not hold the same mystery about joy, but every human being knows that the experience of real joy carries some kind of nearly magical aspect. Joy retains this magical quality when it becomes the motive behind my actions. When what I do fills me with joy, I am propelled toward more action. My “compensation” is the experience itself. The Scriptures say that Yeshua continued on the journey to the cross for the joy set before Him. That is an example of gift in action.
Unfortunately, there are also consequences when we stifle or ignore these natural gifts. Wherever external incentives predominate, I am usually engaged in activities outside my natural zone. When joy is not my reward, I am not optimally productive. When we operate outside of our natural gifting, we work against the grain of our uniqueness and encounter resistance. We are outside the flow, swimming upstream and feeling exhausted in the effort. In contemporary terms, the result is stress. The consequences are declines in productivity, stress-related illnesses and dysfunctional behaviors. The ancient Greeks recognized this counterpoint to joy in the idea of ungratefulness. This provides us with another “red flag” test. When I operate within my natural gifting, I am grateful for the experience. Life is good. Joy embraces me. But when I push my actions outside the zone, life is stressful. Joy evaporates. My orientation turns toward ungratefulness. I cannot love a job that steals my joy no matter how much it pays.
Today is the day for assessment. Are your incentives really robbing you of joy? Do you work for the sheer enjoyment of what you do, or are you a captive of toil for rewards? You cannot move toward the natural gift God has given you if you are serving a master who restrains you. Yeshua knew very well that no man can serve both masters. Which one drives you?
There is little hope of exercising the joyful gift in your life if you are bound to the objective of external rewards. Today is the day for ruthlessly honest assessment. Why do really you do what you do?
Topical Index: transformation, gifts, chairo, edone, Romans 12:6
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might abide in you, and that your joy might be full.” — (JOHN 15:11)
“Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of the heart, when the King is in residence there..”
“[Joy] alone is the proof that what we have really satisfies the heart.”
ABIDING fully in Christ is a life of exquisite and overflowing happiness. As Christ gets more complete possession of the soul, it enters into the joy of its Lord. His own joy, the joy of heaven, becomes its own, and that in full measure, and as an ever-abiding portion. Just as joy on earth is everywhere connected with the vine and its fruit, so joy is an essential characteristic of the life of the believer who fully abides in Christ, the heavenly Vine.
We all know the value of joy. It alone is the proof that what we have really satisfies the heart. As long as duty, or self-interest, or other motives influence me, men cannot know what the object of my pursuit or possession is really worth to me. But when it gives me joy, and they see me delight in it, they know that to me at least it is a treasure. Hence there is nothing so attractive as joy, no preaching so persuasive as the sight of hearts made glad. Just this makes gladness such a mighty element in the Christian character: there is no proof of the reality of God’s love and the blessing He bestows, which men so soon feel the force of, as when the joy of God overcomes all the trials of life. And for the Christian’s own welfare, joy is no less indispensable: the joy of the Lord is his strength; confidence, and courage, and patience find their inspiration in joy. With a heart full of joy no work can weary, and no burden can depress; God Himself is strength and song.
Let us hear what the Saviour says of the joy of abiding in Him. He promises us His own joy: “My joy.” As the whole parable refers to the life His disciples should have in Him when ascended to heaven, the joy is that of His resurrection life. This is clear from those other words of His (John 16:22): “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy shall no man take from you.” It was only with the resurrection and its glory that the power of the never-changing life began, and only in it that the never-ceasing joy could have its rise. With it was fulfilled the word: “Therefore thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” The day of His crowning was the day of the gladness of His heart. That joy of His was the joy of a work fully and for ever completed, the joy of the Father’s bosom regained, and the joy of souls redeemed. These are the elements of His joy; of them the abiding in Him makes us partakers. The believer shares so fully His victory and His perfect redemption, that his faith can without ceasing sing the conqueror’s song: “Thanks be to God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” As the fruit of this, there is the joy of the undisturbed dwelling in the light of the Father’s love–not a cloud to intervene if the abiding be unbroken. And then, with this joy in the love of the Father, as a love received, the joy of the love of souls, as love going out and rejoicing over the lost. Abiding in Christ, penetrating into the very depths of His life and heart, seeking for the most perfect oneness, these the three streams of His joy flow into our hearts. Whether we look backward and see the work He has done, or upward and see the reward He has in the Father’s love that passeth knowledge, or forward in the continual accessions of joy as sinners are brought home, His joy is ours. With our feet on Calvary, our eyes on the Father’s countenance, and our hands helping sinners home, we have His joy as our own.
Andrew Murray
I get what you’re saying but I don’t agree completely. I get joy from what I do. I love certain things of what I do, but I also get a lot of stress. Working in an inner-city environment and all the mess that goes on daily and the things that God lets happen that are out of your control, rubs up against my need for safety and control, which brings me stress. I did not plan to do what I’m doing. I was in business. I was good at business but didn’t like what I saw happening and yearned for working with young people again. God eventually called me out of business. He has also let many things happen to me, tragic things, all designed to heal me and learn how to trust Him. When I’m going through a crisis I cling to Him to get me through it. When I get through it, looking back I see the joy of His Hand at work in my life and why He allowed it to happen. I think my joy comes from the fact that He “never leaves me nor forsakes me” – and that all that happens He does not waste. It’s always used to help me identify more with my flock to understand their pain. By the way, I used to make a lot more money – I haven’t had a raise in years!
“When we are aligned with the natural gifting inherent within us, our expressions of that gifting create joy for us and for others.”
May not be easy to express, but this was/is my case. Youths get drawn to me, freely sharing their problems, not of necessity seeking guidance. They feel at ease with me, feeling/sensing the motherliness from me. Takes me by surprise, still does. Subsequently, the parents are touched by the changes in their sons/daughters, and draws near to YHWH! This will not come through without ABBA’s will.
And the joy of fruitfulness in these youths and the bonding we have makes life so worthwhile, and meaningful.