You may be familiar with the word “stoic.” It is used to describe someone that does not show emotion, particularly when faced with pain or hardship. The origin of the word comes from a Greek philosophy known as “Stoicism.” It asserts that happiness can be achieved by living an ethical life that specifically includes the four “cardinal virtues” of wisdom, justice, courage and moderation. According to these philosophers, one may be indifferent to life’s misfortunes if he is living in harmony with these “laws of nature.”
According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Stoicism asserts that “the wise man and his wisdom consists in conformity to nature.” More simply, it could be described as a combination of “don’t worry, be happy” and “live your best life now.”
The philosophy is not void of all truth. Life is more enjoyable if one regularly exercises those four virtues. However, they are beneficial only to the extent that they fit within the greater wisdom, justice, courage and moderation demanded by God. They are good things because they are consistent with His virtues. These venerated giants of the philosophical world did little more than identify a small portion of what is plainly taught in Scripture, and even then they misapplied it. They spent their lives calculating how to achieve happiness and they could do little more than plagiarize bite-sized pieces of the book of Proverbs.
The opening verses of Proverbs tell the reader that what follows is wisdom in righteousness, justice and equity. Its introductory words conspicuously affirm that the book will “give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth” (Prov. 1:4). But even the wisdom contained in the book of Proverbs is not intended to mold a person into a stoic that is unaffected by hardships, nor does it guarantee happiness. As a matter of fact, the avoidance of sorrow and the pursuit of happiness are not godly endeavors. That is what the world and its false religions peddles, but it is not the aspiration of the child of God.
The wisdom recorded in Proverbs falls under the greater principle that the beginning of knowledge, wisdom and instruction is the fear of the Lord. He must be your central focus. When God is removed from the equation, as the Stoics did, it becomes a quest for self-centered gratification. When your goal is to minimize pain, discomfort and inconvenience and to maximize pleasure, ease and enjoyment you are chasing fool’s gold. God often gives His children extraordinary happiness in life, but it is not a guarantee and it certainly should not be your goal.
All of God’s instruction stands at attention under the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Those “gods” can include the avoidance of pain, discomfort and inconvenience. Those “gods” can include the pursuit of personal pleasure, ease and enjoyment. Remove from your mind the idea that sorrow is like a plague sent from God to punish the impenitent heart. Take care not to put excess effort into making your life as enjoyable and free of stress as possible. Shift your focus to asking God to bear you up under the burden. Ask Him to sanctify you when afflicted and to grow your faith while genuinely and legitimately unhappy. Stoicism in the face hardship and the achievement of happiness are not the Christian’s goal. Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength is!
Examine your heart. How do you respond when life subtracts happiness and adds affliction? Do you lash out, blame or punish others? Are you able to thank God, even as you are grappling with it? Do you trust that God is working out His plan to His glory through the absence of “happiness”? Are you able to delight in God while experiencing disagreeable moments? Ask God to help you improve in this area. Seek opportunities to be thankful for all circumstances and make it your aim to become more of a rejoice-alwayser in lieu of pursuer of happiness.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thes. 5:16–18)