Aiming for Both Progress and Joy
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to encourage a church in the ancient city of Philippi. And it’s surprising that Paul wrote this letter to encourage them, because he himself was suffering in prison (as one who was innocent and wrongly accused)! How was he able to progress through his many difficulties in prison with so much hope and joy?
Paul explains it this way: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). In either life or death, Paul’s goal (and Paul’s expectation) is that he’ll be able to honor and enjoy Christ. Both options are ultimately good. And though Paul longs to be with Jesus, he recognizes that it’s still necessary for him to stay and nurture the Church. And so he concludes in verse 25: “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith.”
I want to point out a simple observation here. The apostle Paul’s ministry is aimed at promoting two important things in the Church. He wants the church to have progress in the faith. And he wants the church to have joy in the faith. Both of them.
Does Your Christian Faith Have Joy?
We need to advance and progress. The Christian life is one of effort and seeking advancement in the faith. Yet if we’re always fixated on doing, we won’t be able to enjoy what God has done, in sending His Son to cleanse us of our corruption. If we’re always fixated on evangelizing others, we may miss out on the pleasantness of the good news ourselves. If we’re always fixated on knowing more, we may fail to enjoy the realness of the truths God has already taught us. God wants us to enjoy the work He has done for us. And as we labor diligently to make progress in the faith, he also wants us to enjoy the work He has done (and is doing!) in us.
Is Your Christian Faith Progressing?
You also need to be aware, though, some churches will emphasize joy and celebrating. But they won’t press people to progress in the faith. There will be churches that offer a watered-down version of Christianity. In their efforts to make Christianity simple for the average person, they’ll make Christianity seem simplistic – almost childish. Though we want to encourage people to have a humble, childlike faith, we don’t want Christians to remain childish in their comprehension of the Christian faith – just see 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 and Hebrews 5:12-14. Likewise, you should want to have joy, but not something that resembles whimsical, mindless amusement. Instead, you should want each church near you to rejoice deeply in truth and in a personal apprehension of God’s vast goodness.
The Balance and Benefits of Progress and Joy
So be careful what message you communicate. If we teach a message of progress without joy, we may easily push people toward a graceless legalism. But if we teach a message of joy without progress, chances are we’ll be misrepresenting what true joy is.
Joy in God is what empowers the Christian’s pursuit of progress. And progress in knowing Christ and becoming more like him is what enflames the Christian’s experience of joy. We need both. So don’t neglect either one. And be sure to help your brothers and sisters onward, so that they, too, will have progress and joy in the faith.
