Embrace an Outrageous, Contagious Joy This Christmas
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“Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you glad tiding of great joy!” (Luke 2:10).
Most of us are familiar with that old Christmas favorite, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. It’s a type of modern-day parable; it teaches us a valuable spiritual lesson in the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an angry rich man who was confronted by the reality of his wasted life accumulating and hoarding wealth.
Scrooge was a joyless miser who experienced a complete transformation as a result of being visited by three spirits: the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. As he remembered his own past Christmases, observed the present circumstances of those in his life, and got a peek into the projected future, his understanding of the world and his place in it was changed. In the end, he learned the joy of generosity and love for his fellow man. When confronted by truth, Scrooge embraced radical transformation, and was filled with love and joy – which is the true spirit of Christmas!
Indeed, it’s what Christmas is supposed to be all about: Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her king!
Christmas is supposed to be a time of outrageous and contagious joy. Indeed, as Christians filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christmas, every day of the year, we should be the most joyful and loving people on the planet. Yet, many struggle in this area; their “joy meter” is on life support and in need of resuscitation!
The Recipe for Joy
How can we make sure we don’t resemble old Ebenezer Scrooge at Christmas time? Look at what the Apostle Paul said to the Philippians:
“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles” (Philippians 4:10-14).
In essence, Paul said that he discovered the recipe for joy, which means you and I can learn it as well.
1. It Takes Courage to Be Happy
“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live” (Ecclesiastes 3:12).
“But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful” (Psalm 68:3).
“…for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b).
From these verses, it’s clear that happiness is a fundamental part of God’s desire for us; and it’s part of the abundant life that we ought to be living through Christ Jesus (John 10:10). But if we were to think about it, we’d understand that the experience of happiness takes some courage on our part.
Typically, we would evaluate our personal happiness based on our circumstances or “happenings” – those situations that touch our lives and steer our emotions one way or another. We say things like:
I’m happy because… I just met a great guy, or this really beautiful girl.
I’m happy because… I just received a pay raise.
I’m happy because… we just moved into our dream home.
But that is not the recipe for true happiness. As the Apostle Paul stated,
“I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty” (Philippians 4:11-12, MSG).
Paul said there was a way to be happy despite external circumstances, even despite bad circumstances. Which means,
When I’m broke, I can be happy.
When my stomach is empty, I can be happy.
When people are talking about me, I can be happy.
When I get a bad report from the doctor, I can still be happy!
Yes, we can be happy regardless of what the enemy throws at us, but it will require you to choose to be courageous.
It takes courage to look squarely at your circumstances, and still say I’m not going to let you get me down. It takes courage to trust God to cover and protect you, toss aside your natural inclination to worry and simply be happy.
It takes courage “when the dog bites and the bee stings and you’re feeling sad” to be happy!
And perhaps you’ve assumed that anyone who is happy is just a naturally happy person; that they don’t have to work at being happy. Or maybe you’ve convinced yourself that happiness is only for people who have no real problems – those people who get good breaks in life.
But the reality is that happy people don’t always feel happy or experience circumstances that make happy emotions come easily; sometimes they have to work on it, too. “Happy people” have problems they must overcome, just like everyone else. The difference is they have courageously chosen to be happy, despite anything they encounter in life.
I recall once when my wife’s aunt came to visit. She was one of the people most affected by Hurricane Sandy and the destruction that the storm surge caused all over Staten Island. She had literally walked holding her two dogs above her head, in water up to her neck, from her home to a place of safety. She was one of those people whose life was suddenly turned upside down. All this she experienced after being made a widow (twice), and after having just lost her 48-year-old daughter to cancer eight weeks beforehand.
And this same woman, as she was sitting with us at the dinner table said, “I know God is doing something in my life, and I’m at peace with it.”
James 1:2 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”
Would you agree that it takes courage to be happy?
I believe so, but friends, it means you’re not stuck with your moods! If you’re down or depressed, you can pray and praise your way out. You can think on good things (Philippians 4:8), and love people regardless of your feelings or circumstances.
2. We Do Ourselves a Favor When We Forgive
Why did Ebenezer Scrooge live such a Bah-humbug existence? The Ghost of Christmas Past revealed that Scrooge had refused to forgive the neglect he received as a child, the fiancée who walked away from him, and God who seemingly did nothing about it.
It seems an obvious failing, but Scrooge is not unlike so many of us who have difficulty forgiving people who have caused us pain. So why is it so hard to forgive offenses?
Possibly it’s because we believe if we forgive them, we are doing them a favor. And the last person we want to do a favor for is someone who has hurt us! But as the old saying goes, “harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” We must understand that forgiveness is not doing a favor for the other person. When we forgive, we do ourselves the favor, and we are obedient to the will of God.
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times’” (Matthew 18:21-22).
Forgiveness is ultimately not about keeping score; it's a lifestyle decision that is a defining characteristic of all Christ followers.
Jesus then told Peter and the disciples the following parable of a biblical “Scrooge”:
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt” (Matthew 18:23-30).
Here is this guy who has been freed from a debt that was much too big for him to ever pay back. In a sense, the man hit the lottery. But instead of being overjoyed, jumping around, pumped up, and celebrating with everyone around him – he was angry, bitter, and resentful. Unforgiveness in his heart stole his joy, and ultimately, his good fortune (Matthew 18:34)
We do ourselves a favor when we forgive; it’s part of the recipe for how to overflow with outrageous contagious joy.
3. The Presence of Problems Doesn’t Mean the Absence of God
As a young boy, Scrooge began to doubt the love and presence of God in his life, because he experienced painful circumstances that, from his point of view, God did nothing about. And like many people, Scrooge associated God with things going good in his life. And when things were not good, that meant that God didn’t care or was absent.
Whether we realize it or not, our perception of God and His involvement in our lives greatly affects our joy.
In general, we are acutely aware of our own weak humanity. If the prospect of God’s help and guidance is removed, we can become hopeless, and therefore joyless.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).
Recall the disciples’ trip across the Sea of Galilee in Mark 4, and how the sudden, violent storm hit the boat, making them feel helpless and afraid. The disciples went to where Jesus was sleeping, woke Him and asked a Scrooge-like and accusing question:
“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38).
To keep the question in perspective, we must keep in mind that the disciples had seen Jesus do miracle after miracle: heal blind eyes and deaf ears, make lame people walk, and turn water into wine. And during their private talks, Jesus had told them that they would have authority to do these same things.
I believe the storm was a test of their faith under trial, to teach them to overcome in all situations, knowing that God was always with them, regardless of the temporary circumstances they faced.
You also are an overcomer even when God seems silent. Release your faith by doing what He’s already taught you to do! Just as the presence of clouds doesn’t indicate the absence of the sun, neither does the presence of problems indicate the absence of God.
So stop looking at situations and circumstances for your feelings of happiness: have courage, forgive and step out in faith, knowing that God is with you. It’s the recipe for joy available to every believer this Christmas, and every day of the year!
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Drazen Zigic
