In this text Paul is making a sharp contrast between those who live for this world and those who live for the world to come. It appears that both groups were professing Christians but had vastly different perspectives about how they lived their lives--one group ends in destruction while the other group receives the assurance of Heaven.

The pursuit of Christ is the one thing that will bring joy like nothing else.

Joy comes when teamwork takes place in a local church.

For growth to take place in a follower of Jesus, it is dependent on both divine sovereignty and human responsibility. This growth is a process of God working in and us working out. Not us working for our salvation—that is God working in us—but us working out our salvation—obediently surrendering and following. This is the path to true joy.

Even though Jesus is Lord of all, He is the greatest example of a servant we can follow. And serving others as Jesus is a path to joy.

We as a church family must be in “koinonia”—which is experiencing the fullest possible partnership and fellowship with God and each other. This requires unity in the vision God has given us and what we believe about Him.

Is it possible to have joy in suffering? The answer is “yes” if we realize whose we are and what our life is truly about. The life of a follower of Jesus is far from easy, however it is a path to real satisfying joy.

A follower of Jesus must learn to live above their circumstances; demonstrating to the world that “the hope” within them is greater than any circumstance they may face. Demonstrating this provides an impactful platform for ministry and mission.

Notice how Paul kept his joy and gives us a great example to follow.