Introduction

The picture featured in this article is of my wedding souvenir. It is a bookmark depicting two pandas studying. The accompanying Chinese characters read, “content with bamboo, always happy (zhī zhú cháng lè, 知竹常乐).” This sentence is a play on the Chinese idiom, “contentment brings happiness (zhī zú cháng lè, 知足常乐),”¹ which means that if one knows how to be content, they will always feel happy in their heart. However, due to the connection between pandas and bamboos, and because the characters “竹” (zhú, bamboo) and “足” (zú, contentment) have similar pronunciations, “content with bamboo, always happy” is used here. My husband Solomon and I chose this bookmark as our wedding souvenir, intending to give everyone a pleasant wish and a warm reminder: always be joyful. But this reminder reveals a stark reality: We live in a time of increasingly abundant material possessions, yet joy seems to be decreasing. Why is this? And what can bring us constant joy? This bookmark may hold the answer.

1. Lacking Contentment: The Absence of Joy

It is well known that bamboo is the main food of pandas. For them, having enough food seems to be the only concern. This calls to mind Jesus’ reminder to seek from the material realm only our “the daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). But for many people nowadays (at least in our Chinese community), do we lack daily food? Compared to previous societies, technological development and a thriving economy have brought about an unprecedented abundance of material goods. Smartphones, convenient transportation, a wide variety of goods, even high-end entertainment and social platforms, all make the comforts of modern life seem easily within reach. Ironically, the abundance of material things does not equate to spiritual sufficiency. On the contrary, many people experience that even when their material needs are met, they are still likely to feel anxious, empty, or even depressed. An interesting study by psychologist Dr. Suniya Luthar has found that children from affluent backgrounds have higher rates of depression, anxiety and substance use.² Thus, it seems that simply having daily food is not the key to our joy; rather, contentment is.

But why do we struggle to be content?

Could it be because of the uncertainty of material possessions? A sense of worry has been ingrained in Chinese people since ancient times, as captured in this well-known saying: “Things in life can change suddenly, and people may encounter good or bad fortune at any time (天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福).”³ Very few things are reliable, including people and material possessions.

Could it be because people struggle to find a true sense of self-worth? Perhaps, in modern societies, the emphasis on independence and individuality pressures people to define their own value through work, consumption, and achievements. But these factors are too greatly influenced by external circumstances and fall into the category of things beyond human control.

Could it be because the desire for satisfaction is insatiable? Possibly. The ancient poem “Song of Greed and Contentment (不足歌)” depicts the absurdity of the endless human chase for more, ending with a rather ironic statement: “If one wants their desires to be fulfilled, they must do so in their dreams (若要世人心满足，除非南柯一梦兮).”⁴

In the picture on my bookmark, the panda is reading a book in front of it to acquire knowledge. Interestingly, bamboo is not only the food of pandas, but it was also used to make books in ancient China, which were called “bamboo scrolls (竹简).” In addition, in Chinese literary works, bamboo is called one of the “the Four Gentlemen among Flowers (花中四君子),” symbolizing perseverance, humility, noble character and lofty integrity, all of which represent the demeanor of a gentleman. Therefore, saying “content with bamboo, always happy” can also imply that one should strive to acquire and cultivate the complete demeanor of a gentleman, someone who has transcended all human desires and is always content. But what is a gentleman? According to Confucian thought,⁵ “[a] gentleman is of a pure and upright nature (君子坦荡荡),” “[a] gentleman understands righteousness (君子喻于义),” “[a] gentleman uses literature to cultivate himself and uses etiquette to establish others (君子以文修身，以礼立人),” “[a] gentleman helps others achieve success (君子成人之美),” and so on. A gentleman is actually the ideal personality in the hearts of ancient Chinese sages. In the words of the Bible, he is a “perfect” person—blameless, guiltless, complete, a person of integrity (cf. Job 8:20; Matthew 19:21; James 3:2, etc.). If such a person really exists, I believe he or she must be a deeply content and joyful person. But my problem remains unsolved. If I can’t become such a perfect person—does this mean I can’t be content and joyful?

2. Knowing the Lord: The Retrieval of Joy

I recently meditated on the book of Philippians. In Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, he repeatedly mentions “joy,” even as he is writing in prison. He tells us the reason for his joy: “… I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8, NASB).⁶ The direct translation from the Greek of “knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” is “the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” The noble character represented by bamboo may not necessarily be encouraging us to strive for perfection, but rather to acknowledge our limitations. Just as the bamboo has an empty interior, we must also admit the emptiness within ourselves. However, Christians are called to transcend this emptiness: “Remember your Creator” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Knowing the Lord brings constant joy because it means knowing Jesus Christ as the surpassing value of our lives. This not only signifies an acknowledgement of faith, but also a sense of belonging. Paul is teaching us that Jesus is the eternal treasure, and his presence brings joy that transcends circumstances and situations. Knowing Jesus enables us to no longer seek happiness through external conditions, but to draw contentment from our relationship with him. No matter how the environment fluctuates, the soul has a stable foundation; no matter what challenges one encounters, joy stems from trusting in him. This joy is profound, enduring, and cannot be taken away by worldly affairs. It is precisely because we have Jesus that we can be content and joyful in receiving our “daily bread.”

Just as Paul goes on to tell us, knowing the Lord not only means believing in him, but also understanding his love for us. This love died for us even when we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). It is the love that enables us to become sons of God through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5). It is the love that enables us, those who were dead in transgressions, to rise with Christ and reign together with him (Ephesians 2:5–6). It is not that we first loved him, but rather that he first loved us (1 John 4:19). It is precisely this love from the Lord, who transcends all, that enables us to be joyful. Had it not been for Jesus Christ’s love for us, we would have long forgotten how to love ourselves.

3. Submitting to the Lord: The Offering of Joy

Perhaps a question that many Christians ask is this: After knowing Jesus Christ as the surpassing value of our lives, then what? Is knowing enough? The answer given by the Apostle Paul to us is: Not enough. He set an example for us, declaring: “I press on…forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal …” (Philippians 3:12–14). He then instructs us on how to imitate him in order to experience constant joy.

First, we pray. Paul tells us: “but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Prayer is not merely speaking to God, but rather a process of communicating with him. In our fast-paced lives, this means taking a moment to listen to the voice of Jesus and letting our hearts rest from anxiety. Although we live in an uncertain world, we also already reign together with Jesus Christ as kings. By drawing close to the eternal Lord through prayer, we can find joy even in this present age, relying on his love and comfort.

Second, it is about pursuit. We cannot rest on the grace of God and stop there. Paul tells us: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). This is not for us to become perfect people here and now. Instead, it reminds us that our identity is already holy, and we should no longer allow ourselves to be immersed in the filth of past sins. Our pursuit will bring about a testimony of life transformation. When others see our good deeds, they will give glory to our God (cf. 1 Peter 2:12). And wouldn’t it bring us immense joy to be able to glorify our Father in heaven?

Third, we can be joyful in service. In the following verses, Paul commends the service of the Philippian church toward him. However, in modern times, people often pursue personal achievements and overlook the needs of others. Serving others is not only a response to God’s call, but also allows us to experience the flow of joy. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). When our lives are centered around the Lord and we care for others over material accumulation, joy naturally emerges. Jesus said that to serve the least of his brothers and sisters on earth is to serve him (cf. Matthew 25:40). What a great joy it must be to serve the Lord who loves us!

Finally, it is about holding on. Wealth and status can be taken away, health may decline, and our social and natural environment is full of uncertainties. However, knowing Jesus enables us to understand that true security comes from his presence. Trusting in the Lord is not a passive surrender, but an active commitment to entrust one’s life to the Most High. It is learning to maintain inner peace and joy in the face of uncertainty. After the previous three instructions, Paul tells the Philippians that as long as they follow through, God will guard their hearts and minds, be with them, and supply all their needs (Philippians 4:7, 9, 19). By holding onto the grace of Jesus Christ, one will surely receive the joy that God has bestowed.

Conclusion

Contentment brings happiness, allowing us to temporarily experience the peace of life; knowing and submitting to the Lord leads to eternal joy. Just like the bamboo, no matter how fierce the wind or how heavy the rain, its roots are deeply planted in the soil, swaying with the wind but never breaking. Joy is the same: Rooted in Christ, we can still smile in the face of storms and remain at peace in the face of challenges. Just as it is said in Psalm 16:11: “In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” This kind of joy is the most scarce yet most desired blessing for modern people.

Modern life reminds us that abundant material possessions do not equate to inner contentment. No matter how much we possess, we may still feel empty. Only by knowing Jesus Christ, regarding him as the supreme value of our lives and taking actions to submit to our Lord, can we experience a joy that will remain steadfast regardless of wealth, status, or circumstances. Let us journey from being “content with bamboo (our daily bread),” to letting “contentment bring happiness,” and finally, to realizing that “knowing and submitting to the Lord brings constant joy (知主顺主，永得喜乐).” May our joy take root in eternity and become the constant fuel for our daily lives.