JOY – Episode 4 – The Joy of The Master

 

JOY – Episode 4 – The Joy of The Master

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

It is at least interesting that the fruit of the Spirit of Joy is positioned between Love and Peace. Could it be coincidental that we must find love which comes before joy in order to find peace in our lives?

When and from what sources do you find joy? Is it in a job well done? From your career, hobby, family, possessions or good fortune?

This word, JOY, in the Bible and from the Greek language in which it was written, is ‘chara’,  (pronounced, khar-ah’), means  joy, delight, gladness, a source of joy. The picture is “to extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed”. More properly, it means the awareness of God’s grace and favor. Joy is found when God’s grace is recognized.

Read with me over the coming episodes, examples of what the scriptures say about JOY.

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:21).

It seems odd, in our day and time, to call someone a slave. But in the day and in the culture which this was written, it was a common practice. However, there were many instances where a slave was a member of the household of the slave-owner, and were properly cared for and treated very well. But, the slave was expected to perform his or her duties as instructed by the owner.

Furthermore, this word, slave, comes from the Greek word, doúlos, which properly means someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own. Ironically, is used with the highest dignity in the New Testament, namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ’s authority as His devoted followers. This is the case, here. A mutually beneficial relationship.

This verse is actually a simile from a parable, offered as a teaching. The context of this parable is found in the preceding verses, Matthew 25, verses 14 through 20:

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one, he gave five talents (see footnote ‘c’), to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. In the same way, the one who had received the two talents earned two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

 “Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master (see footnote ‘e’).’

This relationship is further defined when the doúlo-slave is found to be trusted with such a large sum of the master’s money. It is a relationship built on trust and interdependency.

The master is pleased, in this case, with the performance of his slave. But more importantly, the master is filled with joy, ‘chara’. He is delighted, filled with gladness, the relationship of trustworthiness is the source of his joy. The master ‘extends his favor, as he lean toward and is favorably disposed’ toward his servant. And the servant is made aware of the master’s grace and favor.

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them”, is a simile within a parable and is one secret, hidden in the oracles of God, about having, holding and enjoying joy in your own life.

Make this joy your own by remembering that True Joy is found when you are found to be trustworthy.

Make this joy your own by remembering that True Joy is found when God’s grace is recognized. Accept God’s grace and extend it to others!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS:  Joy, Episode 3 – The Hidden Treasure.

 NEXT:  Joy – Episode 5 – They Left the Tomb with Great Joy.

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).