7/16/2023

Kerrville Daily Times Share:

Happiness and joy: What matters most of all?

• Jeff Anderson
• Jul 15, 2023

“It’s your happiness that matters most of all,” professed Freddy Fender’s song of the year in 1975, to the delight of millions.

A few years after Fender’s popular lyrics about happiness appeared in “Before The Next Teardrop Falls,” Kansas City marketing guru Bob Bernstein achieved the happiness-idea hall of fame by reasoning that if kids could get a packaged meal all their own instead of just picking at their parent’s food, everybody would be happier.

Bernstein had noticed his young son at the breakfast table poring over the various items on cereal boxes and thought, why not do that for his client McDonald’s? “The package is the key,” he thought.

He called in his creative team and had them mock up paperboard boxes fashioned to resemble lunch pails with the McDonald’s Golden Arches for handles. Then he tasked illustrators to fill the box’s sides and tops with colorful ideas they thought might appeal to kids.

Bernstein then trademarked this package the “Happy Meal,” and McDonald’s introduced packaged happiness to the world.

The Happy Meal story gives insight into the immense economic value consumers place on happiness. Today, almost five decades after their introduction, Happy Meals account for more than 20% of McDonald’s annual worldwide transactions.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines happiness as the mental or emotional state of positive/pleasant feelings. Happiness is the range of emotions we experience from life circumstances arising from our health, vocations, relationships, recreation, lifestyles, responsibilities and faith.

Socially, we tend to interchangeably use the words “happiness” or “joy” to synonymously discuss our emotions. Yet, from a spiritual perspective, are happiness and joy the same thing? The Apostle Paul provides insight:

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 14:17

Happiness and joy are seemingly similar, but actually quite different. Paul equates happiness with the temporal experiences of eating and drinking, while suggesting joy relates to goodness, tranquility and the delight that comes from a relationship with Jesus.

The Bible never promises us happiness, but God does promise joy. Being happy is a fleeting emotion, just like sadness, jealousy or fear. Happiness is enjoyable yet temporary.

Joy, on the other hand, is a long-lasting state of peace. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit we should strive towards. The Book of Hebrews shares what Jesus would do:

“For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:2

Joy is a promised fruit of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we will only activate this promise when God’s Spirit dwells within us. We must first acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the source of our joy, he makes it impossible to suppress this delight. 

The Holy Spirit sustains our joy, irregardless of our state of happiness. Happiness is a temporary pleasing emotion. Joy, on the other hand, is a long lasting perpetual gladness of the heart that comes from knowing, experiencing and trusting Jesus.

Joy is a reward of our relationship with the Son of God, facilitated by the Holy Spirit’s presence. Our relationship with Christ fills us with inexpressible, glorious and enduring delight. It is joy that prepares us for “what matters most of all,” the ultimate pleasure when Jesus welcomes us to the eternal joy of our Heavenly destiny.

Prayer: Father, may we truly experience the delight of your joy by pursuing faith, obedience, forgiveness, repentance, prayer, fellowship and service for your kingdom. Amen.

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