If you were asked to give a simple answer to the question about the secret of happiness on this earth, what would you say? The best response might be found in an acronym which has been around for decades. It deserves to be repeated because some may have forgotten it; others who have not grown up in the church may have never heard it; and parents need to be reminded to teach it to their small children. It is based on using every letter of the word JOY to give the order of priority of true happiness: Jesus first; Others second and Yourself last.
Jesus first. We must never forget these words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matt. 6:33). Nor should we forget that the greatest commandment of the Old Testament was, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). Paul says it this way, “This one thing I do…I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14). There is no joy until we put first things first.
Others second. Unless we train ourselves otherwise, we will embrace the social norm of nature—survival of the fittest and all that matters is me and my happiness. That second greatest commandment still says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The reality is that in one sense we are to love them more than ourselves. The Scriptures say, “Let each esteem others better than himself” (Phil. 2:3). The example of Paul’s willingness to humble himself and put others first is clearly seen. Paul teaches that one can freely eat any kind of meat but was aware that some did not share this knowledge. What was his response? “If food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (1 Cor. 8:13). See that same attitude toward his actions in teaching the lost, “I have made myself a servant to all that I might win the more…to the Jew I became…to those without law I became… to the weak I became…” (1 Cor. 9:19-22).
Yourself last. Dealing with others who are so selfish is not easy, but each of them has a soul which we must seek to save. David describes winning the souls of others in terms of planting a crop and harvesting it. “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psa. 126:5-6). Beyond a shadow of a doubt, we shall sow and reap in joy. This will never happen until we put ourselves last.
Remember that the secret of true joy in this is so simple. Jesus first, others second and yourself last.