Happy and You Know It 5 | Exercising Happiness

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

The joy God desires for us isn't stumbled into—it's exercised, like spiritual crunches we'd rather skip.

The Question Behind "How Did You Do It?"

If you had been here fifteen years ago, you would have known a very different me. Back then I weighed 300 pounds. From December of 2002 to December of 2003, I lost 125 pounds, going from 300 down to 175. People would come up with that inquisitive look and ask, "You've lost a lot of weight—how did you do it?"

I knew what they were hoping to hear: a miraculous anti-calorie spray, or an amazing medication that makes the weight just fall off while you sleep. Their faces went from anticipation to disappointment when I said, "I ran my butt off. I changed my diet, I started working out." That's not what people want to hear, because when it comes right down to it, we don't like to exert that much energy and effort.

We All Want to Be Happy

That same truth applies to happiness and joy. I don't think it's far off to say we all want to be happy. And I don't think it's off to say that Jesus desires we would experience joy. There are many texts to prove that point, and yes, some teachers in America take them out of context—but Jesus did say:

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)

So if we all want to be happy, and the Lord desires His joy to be in us, why aren't we happy, and how can we be? I'm afraid the answers are like the ones I gave the curious: spiritual exercise and a spiritual diet. In Philippians 2:12-18, Paul gives us what I'd call happiness exercises—and some of them you're not going to like. They're the biblical equivalent of spiritual crunches. So put on your stretchy pants for the next thirty minutes; this is Christian CrossFit for biblical happiness.

Happiness Is a Discipline

Paul writes, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Point number one: happiness is a discipline. It's not just an emotion you stumble into. Most of us would love to wake up tomorrow eternally happy, having simply fallen into it—but the odds of that are about the same as winning the Powerball.

First, this discipline takes obedience. Notice the words "always obeyed." If we're going to experience the joy and contentment Paul talks about, we'll have to do the same. Will we always obey perfectly? No. But our target ought to be obedience. The Bible reveals that God created us—Psalm 139 says He knit us together in our mother's womb (a great verse for Mother's Day). He is the original equipment manufacturer, and He knows the proper use for what He made. When we follow His user's manual, we experience the joy of working and functioning as we should.

Second, the discipline takes integrity. Paul says they obeyed "not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence." The Philippians didn't need an apostle constantly looking over their shoulder like a spiritual trainer making sure they finished their push-ups. They obeyed whether Paul was there or not. Parents, isn't it wonderful when another adult tells you how obedient your kids are? Third John verse 4 says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth." God has joy when He sees us walking in the truth—and we experience that joy as well.

Happiness Is Hard Work

Point number two: happiness is hard work. Notice it does not say work for your salvation; it says work out your salvation. Many Christians strive after these spiritual things thinking they'll earn salvation, and some within the church have wrongly emphasized that mindset. But that's not what Scripture says. The New Living Translation puts it: "Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear." You are already saved—now work it out to show what it means to be saved.

If you want a six-pack of happiness abs, it's going to take hard work and discipline—the discipline of obedience and the discipline of integrity, walking in what is right even when no one else is around to see you.

Without Complaining and Disputing

Paul goes further: "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault." Ask yourself: how many of us fulfilled that this week? I didn't. Complaining is grumbling, dissatisfaction, murmuring. That word should take us back to the book of Numbers—just this week in my daily reading I came to Numbers 11:1: "When the people complained, it displeased the LORD." I can guarantee you, if your life is displeasing to the Lord, you will not be happy.

He also says do all things without disputing—without arguing. Moms, wouldn't it make you happy if your kids never argued, even for one hour? It's wonderful when I come upstairs and find a couple of my kids coloring together, actually sharing the crayons. It happens for about twelve seconds and then it's gone.

Notice Paul says "that you may become." As you exercise a life without complaint and argument, the growth comes—you feel the burn—and you become blameless and harmless. "Harmless" is the same word Jesus uses in Matthew 10:16, "wise as serpents but as harmless as doves," and Paul uses in Romans, "wise in what is good and simple concerning evil." Even though the normal way of living—especially in America, where we're practically bred to complain and argue—runs the other direction, God's people ought to be working at these things.

Happiness Grows Through Sacrifice and Service

Paul highlights two more exercises: "Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all." Point number three: happiness grows through faithful sacrifice and service. These are the spiritual crunches none of us naturally enjoy. None of us wants to sacrifice or serve others. But unless we press through to be obedient, to have integrity, to refuse complaining and arguing, and to sacrificially serve others, we will not experience growth in the abundant life.

I meet many Christians who believe in Jesus, go to church, and want to follow the Lord, yet aren't experiencing the joy Scripture describes. They wonder if it's even possible. It is—but it requires effort. Just as you won't wake up tomorrow skinny and ripped without exercise and diet, you won't experience the joy of Christ until you begin to willingly give of yourself in service to other people.

The Reward of Discipline

These things are not easy. In our own strength they're not merely difficult—they're impossible. Hebrews 12:11 says, "No discipline seems enjoyable at the time but painful." I got on the treadmill yesterday, and the first ten minutes were nothing but murmuring and complaining—it's painful. But the writer goes on: "Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Sadly, not many people in the world exercise themselves toward happiness. So if you endeavor to do these things in the midst of a dark and depressing world, you will, as Paul says, "shine as lights in the world." Point number four: happiness is bringing light to those who are in darkness. People are pursuing happiness—it's an American value—but they're not finding it. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine among men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

God Works in You So You Can Work It Out

As I meditated on this passage, I thought, "This all sounds good, but how do I actually do it?" Then I remembered that nestled right in the middle of this passage is honestly my favorite verse in the whole Bible: "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). The New Living Translation says, "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."

There are times I don't want to do the right thing. Sometimes I like to complain and argue. So it's awesome to know God is working in us, giving us new desires—the desire and the power to please Him. And I guarantee you will never be happy while displeasing the Lord, and you will be happy when you please Him. Point number five: God is working in you so that you can work this out. None of these happiness exercises is possible without His work in us through salvation. Maximal joy cannot happen apart from the work of God in our lives—which is why the gospel is so important. We preach the gospel for the joy of all peoples.

The Word of Life

One more essential key is found in verses 15 and 16: "...among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life." Virtually every exercise routine requires some equipment, and this is no different. The equipment is the Word of life. Hold firmly to it as God works in you.

Why is this essential? Consider Psalm 19:7 and following:

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes... More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

David piles up synonyms—the law, the testimony, the statutes, the commandment, the judgments of the Lord—and says they convert the soul, make wise the simple, rejoice the heart, and endure forever. The Word of God is the Word of life. Jesus said the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, "but I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Our experience of that abundant life is bound up with the things of Scripture. Point number six: the Word of life will bring joy to your life—for "the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart."

This happiness thing takes discipline: obedience and integrity, sacrifice and service. But as we exercise these things—knowing the Lord is working in us, giving us the desire and the ability to please Him—and as we actually put energy into it, we will experience what the Bible calls the abundant life. Good truth to think about on any day, but especially on Mother's Day.

Closing Prayer

Lord, Your word is good; it is the word of life. I pray that our experience of this abundant life in You would grow—that it would not be limited or temporary, something we experience for a time and then it fades, but that it would be expanding and eternal. We read that there is coming a day when we will see You face to face and be in Your presence, and we find in the Psalms that in Your presence is fullness of joy, and at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Make that a reality in our lives today, so that we would shine as lights in a world that doesn't have it—that our family members, friends, and coworkers would see the joy in us, the fruit of Your Spirit, the evidence of Your presence. Work these things into us. And I pray for any here today who don't yet know that joy, that they would come to You, the fountain and well of joy, and draw freely. Jesus, You died on the cross that we could experience abundant life, and You rose from the dead that it could be a reality in our lives. Draw people into that faith and trust and confidence in You today. We ask it in Jesus' name, and everyone who agreed said amen.