Violently Joyful

One must violently go about pursuing one’s joy. Indeed things must be ripped asunder and thrown aside for one’s joy to be complete. The beautiful vase is shattered; the gorgeous painting shredded; the priceless car wrecked.

For in seeing a better thing one forces one’s way to it. “For the joy set before him, he sold all he had and purchased the field. (Matt. 13:44)” Not because the field was lovely, not because the soil was good for farming, but because there was a great treasure buried in the dirt. He sold all he had! He violently, or recklessly pursued his joy in selling everything for a field because he knew there was a treasure worth more than he had.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to buy what he cannot earn. (Jim Elliott)” To pursue one’s own joy in seeking a great treasure is no sin, if the great treasure is worthy of pursuit. If the treasure is weak and languid and not worthy of the pursuit given it then it is sin, but, however, if the treasure is incomparable to any others, if it is indeed glorious, then it is no sin to pursue this treasure.

The treasure I speak of is God, he is not only Redeemer and Savior but he is also Treasure and Reward for the believer. He is both giver of the Reward and the Reward itself. “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness.’ Has shone in our dark hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:4-6)”

We have seen a great light; we have beheld a great treasure, one that is worthy of pursuit. We are drawn to it, not through obligation but through want of joy; we have fallen in love with it, not from fearful compliance but from worship. He, God, is indeed completely worthy of pursuit, and not only is he worthy of pursuit but he is worthy of worship. He is our satisfying joy. Nothing else will do.