“And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go well with him through the days of his life that God has given him…” (Ecclesiastes 8:15).

Joy is an elusive commodity in our day. The primary reason is that most people pursue happiness in place of joy. It only makes sense that pursuing the wrong thing generally brings the wrong outcome. In that light, it is crucial to understand that joy and happiness are not the same things. Happiness can be fleeting, shallow and man-made. True joy on the other hand is substantial, deep, and flows ultimately from God. 

Now the word joy is found 179 times in the Bible. As it relates to the use of the word in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul incorporated the word into many of his letters. But what’s interesting is that most of the times he used the word, he linked it with something related to God. In various places, Paul linked joy with prayer, faith, the Holy Spirit, hope, glory, love and thanksgiving. I think there is a lesson in that for all of us to consider, especially in light of what King Solomon wrote about joy in the verse cited above. 

I believe the truth that Solomon wished to get across, in combination with the way the Apostle Paul used the word, is this: joy must be pursued. And further, it’s possible to possess joy throughout life because ultimately joy is not found in the shallow pursuit of happiness, but rather in the deep and lasting person of God. Simply put, lifelong joy is found in a lifelong pursuit of God. 

In that light, let me ask you to consider what you are presently looking to for joy? If you are seeking joy in the absence of trials or challenges, in the possession of things, or in fleeting pleasures, you are destined to fail. You see, according to Solomon, happiness departs, but joy endures. 

Listen again to Solomon’s words: “Man has no good thing under the sun but to be joyful.” It’s hard to miss his point. We are built by God to pursue joy. He intends for us to pursue joy. It is his will and desire that we be joyful through all the days of our lives. Nothing else matters; nothing else lasts. Nothing else satisfies the craving of our hearts that God built into us. 

So the question for all of us is this. Are we pursuing joy in our pursuit of God? If so, we are destined to find it because God wants us to be joyful. He commends us to joy all the days of our lives. However, if we are pursuing happiness instead of joy, we are destined to be disappointed. God has given us life; and further, God has given us a worthy pursuit, joy. Find it in him and nothing else. You won’t be disappointed because God guarantees it!