A Cheerful Heart
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A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
But a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Illustration:
A couple of years ago our son was sunburned. Fortunately, a teacher of his had previously given to him an Aloe plant that Josiah was maintaining in his room. Josiah took one of the stems from that aloe plant, broke it and it produced the salve for his sunburn.
This scripture shows the inner workings of a human. What does it mean though?
There is something to be said for someone who is the life of the party. They tend to life others up. They say crazy things that encourage others or make others laugh.
The fact is that we would rather be happy than sad. We would rather feel content and laughter rather than anger.
What is a merry heart?
What is a merry heart?
We do want to distinguish what this is from what it is not.
The verse does not indicate that circumstances are good for a person with a merry heart. As a matter of fact, the fact that medicine is needed would imply that circumstances are bad, hence:
A merry heart is not the product of good circumstances: good job, good family, good health...
The verse does not indicate that a merry heart is a physical heart either. The scripture says, "like a medicine" implying that the writer is speaking metaphorically. Hence:
A merry heart is not the result of having a good EKG or a strong pumping physical organ.
The verse also indicates that a merry heart does not coexist with a defeated spirit. Hence:
A merry heart is not just something that is reflected on the inside of a person, but there is something outward.
Definitions:
Definitions:
A merry (full of joy) heart (the inner self) is pleasing like a (health, healing) but a crushed spirit dries out the bones.
A merry heart is someone who is full of joy when their circumstances are not enjoyable.
A merry heart is something that is true about the inward part of the person.
A merry heart is something so true on the inside that the countenance of the person shows it on the outside of them.
Why is it so desirable?
Why is it so desirable?
The obvious reason to desire this is that a merry heart is like a healing balm.
Illustration:
I remember one time when I was growing up, on a particular occasion, I had a terrible ear ache. My uncle came to see me and told me that he was going to take be out to eat pizza and bowling. I remember that event because even though I was hurting, I felt as though the ear ache had gone away. I was so happy to be able to do what I enjoyed doing that it affected my physical health in a real way.
What is amazing about the scriptures is that the Bible teaches us how the inner man can be strengthened day by day. That leads to the last question:
How does someone obtain this kind of treasure?
How does someone obtain this kind of treasure?
(1) God became a man and experienced the greatest brokenness a man could experience. (all the way to death)
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
He was broken for the sins of others.
(2) The brokenness that Jesus endured was followed by His exaltation - , ,
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Jesus proved that He went through the deepest brokenness and that He was greater than all of it.
(3) The exaltation of Jesus calls us to either accept or reject Him as Lord -
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
(4) When someone stops believing in their own goodness and believes on Jesus as Lord, they receive the gift that keeps on giving: The Holy Spirit of God -
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
The cheerful heart that God offers to us today is one that:
God produces in you
God payed a high price for you to enjoy
God calls you to decide about
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.