Joy, Joy, Joy! (Looking for Joy in the Wrong Places)
Are you a joyful person, or have you bought into the illusion that joy and contentment are just around the next corner? We convince ourselves that life will be better after we graduate, then when we are in college, we think life will get better when we have our degree. Then we think life will get better when we have a job; then we think life will get better after we get married. Then we think life will get better when we have a baby, and then another one, and then another one. Then we think life will get better when these babies grow up and move out on their own. Then life will get better when we retire. Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth? Too many people live their lives on this perpetual merry-go-round, thinking joy and contentment are just around the corner.
All they are doing is spinning around and getting sick of it. People who always look for the next big thing are the most frustrated people on the planet because the next big thing never satisfies our soul.
Jesus said, "I have come so that you might have life, abundant life." So, the question is, "where is the joy?"
Could it be that we are looking for joy in all the wrong places? I think we are. There are three primary myths as to where joy comes from in society today.
Myth One: The American Dream = Joy
When I make this much money, when I have the latest iPhone, when I move out and get a place of my own, when I can afford this car, this whatever, then I will be content. Except you won't. You will have bills to pay and anxiety over the depreciation of your assets, but you will not find joy in your possessions. Then, one day, you will wake up and realize that instead of possessing your possessions, your possessions possess you. Say that three times fast.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless."
If you think stuff is going to bring you joy, then you should be one of the most joyful people on the face of the earth because you have more stuff than most people in the world have. Most people don't have a sink where they can get clean water. Most people don't have a closet full of clothes; they only have one outfit, and if they are fortunate, maybe two outfits to wear. Most people don't eat three meals a day and grab snacks whenever they feel a hunger pain. Most people are lucky to get one meal a day.
I have traveled the world, and I see more joyful people who have nothing compared to us. Why do you think that is? It is because stuff never satisfies.
Myth Two: Climbing the Corporate Ladder = Joy
If I can just graduate from High School, get a college degree, and make some money. If I could just be a big wig with the corner office and get this promotion, get this bonus, get this contract, get this position, then I'll have it made.
I've talked to so many CEOs who are miserable. They look around and think, this is it? I sacrificed for this. And then you are always looking behind your back because there is always someone waiting in the wings who's a little brighter, a little sharper, a little better looking, and a little funnier, waiting to be the next in line. They found no joy in what they did because joy isn't found in what you do; it's found in who you are.
Myth Three: Plastic Surgery = Joy
Hopefully, you will never do this, but a lot of people do. If only I looked like this or that, then I would be full of joy. If I weighed this much, if my muscles were this big, if my nose were a little smaller, if my butt were a little bigger, if I were a little taller, then I would be full of joy.
All these things are a formula for frustration and disappointment. These things don't bring about lasting joy. And why? Look at what these three things have in common. They are all about us. Accumulate more for who? Me. Become successful for who? Me. Be better looking for who? Me.
God wants you to be joyful, but the problem is, you keep getting in the way. This week, we are going to talk about joy. Where does it come from, and how can I get some?
1. Where do you think joy comes from?
2. Why do you think there are so many miserable people in our world today?
3. Which one of the three myths that we just looked at have you bought into the most?
4. Look up Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. How did the author of this passage, Solomon, try to find joy? He looked for joy in
5. Did Solomon find joy in any of these things? Look at what he wrote about all of this in verse 11. He said everything is ______________________.
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