Experiencing Collective Joy in Serving the Lord

By Helen Bessent Byrd (M.Div.’07)

Contemporary twenty-first century living tends to fill our lives with many challenges. The more conveniences that are available to us the more of them we seem to desire. All too often the scramble for balance of parenting, work, and leisure often squeezes out our major source for joie de vivre, joy of life. The source of renewal and strength is in the Word of God. The psalmist reminds us that, “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.”

When our focus turns from selfishness to selflessness is easier to experience joy. Authors of the recent issue of Yes Magazine used the term collective joy to address responding to economic disparities. We should make every effort for “persistent and collective joy…where our happiness isn’t contingent on momentary success or someone else’s exploitation.” All of the blessings that we receive are entrusted upon each of us by the grace of God who expects us to share them with others. Speaking to Ephesian elders on supporting the weak, he reminded them that Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Being generous of spirit is a wonderful way to live. It is the Christian way of living. Indeed, every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above (James 1:7a). We should do as John Wesley taught: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” Then may this benediction of Paul to the Romans rest on you, “May the God of hope fill you with all [collective] joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).

(See the website for giving opportunities.  When you give, write BAA on the line with your name if you give online and on the memo line of your check for tracking purposes!)  All who believe in and follow the Triune God, including helping those in need, will promote solidarity among us all and will experience the collective joy in serving the Lord!