“I REJOICE IN the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me” (Phil. 4:10). Here is a rejoicing in the Lord which is different from the other rejoicings we have found in this Epistle. The other rejoicings were general rejoicings over permanent relationships in the Lord. This rejoicing is over a specific thing that had happened—their concern for him had revived.
Are these rejoicings on the same level and of the same importance? No. The rejoicing mentioned in this verse is more akin to happiness than to joy. Happiness is dependent on happenings, and is therefore occasional; joy is dependent on relationships with Christ, and therefore permanent. We should let our weight down on joy, but not on happiness. Happenings bringing happiness very often don’t happen. Yet many reiterate happenings to prove the goodness of God to them instead of reiterating the permanent joy which comes from living in union with Christ. This is a well of joy; the other is a shower-dependent stream which may dry up.
“I love my Daddy—he gives me pennies every day,” said a little fellow. That was penny love. Later he will probably say, “I love my Daddy”—that is personality love.
If Paul had depended too much on peoples’ concern for him he would have been disillusioned and frustrated. In the end people let him down: “At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully . . . The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Tim. 4:16–18). Here the concern of people for him had collapsed. But Paul didn’t collapse. His joy was in two things: his life work was being fulfilled, and he belonged to an eternal kingdom. His joy was intact and flowing—in spite of!
O Jesus, I thank Thee for the happenings along the way. But I thank Thee most of all for the way. It leads home! I’m at home in Thee, going home. “In Thee” counts, all else is marginal. I thank Thee, thank Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: My happiness does not depend on happenings, but upon Him who is above happenings.
