Philippians 2:12-18 - Listen to this message now or download as: MP3

Learning to be joyful: Phil 2:12-18

It may seem unusual to talk about learning to be joyful. This is because we have grown to be lazy. Most things are instant these days, instant coffee, instant soup, instant pasta, and instant service. Things that require effort, perseverance and patience are less attractive. So we settle for cheap and easy joy in our work, relationships, family and Church. We want to experience joy but without putting in the effort. There is another harder way but it is far better. 

You can learn to enjoy serving Christ rather than your own desire for happiness. It will take self control, self denial and self sacrifice but it is worth it. By giving up cheap joy and investing in God’s Kingdom; by serving God and your neighbour, you will learn experience a real lasting joy. Being a comforter instead of looking for comfort, encouraging rather than seeking encouragement, sharing someone’s burden rather than giving them yours are all ways to experience the joy of becoming really human. Being selfish is a distortion of God’s plan, becoming selfless is where true joy is found. The Rev