Rejoicing Or Worrying

 

 

 

"Joy ceases to be joy when it ceases to be 'in the Lord'. " - J.A. Motyer

 

Philippians 4:4 says - "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." 

 

Someone once said - "We are meant to enjoy our salvation, not endure it."
 

In the opening Scripture, the Apostle Paul commands us as believers to "rejoice in the Lord."  We are to be glad, rejoice exceedingly, be cheerful, and be calmly and continuously happy or well-off.

 

When are we to "rejoice"?

 

When - we are on the mountain top...everything is going well...everyone likes us and speaks well of us...we are prospering and in good health...or the children are all serving the Lord?

 

What about those times when - we find ourselves down in the valley of despair...people are speaking ill of us...we don't have two nickels to rub together...are physically ill...and the children and grandchildren are rebellious and not serving the Lord?

 

The Apostle Paul told us that we are to rejoice "alway." In other words, at all times and in all conditions. That includes in the good times as well as in the bad times.

 

As the songwriter said - "In the good times, praise His name; In the bad times, do the same."

 

"Rejoice" was a common expression for meeting or parting. So whenever one would greet another or part from someone, he would say - "Rejoice." This practice certainly kept the idea fresh in the individual's mind.

 

Rejoicing for the Christian is considered a great privilege, but even more so, it is a command.

 

How could the Bible possibly command us to be continuously happy when God knows that we live in a fallen world and face adverse circumstances and problems almost daily?

 

God commands us to "rejoice" simply because our rejoicing is not to be in our circumstances which are subject to change but in the Lord Who changes not.

 

Stories and illustrations seem to get a point across better than any other method of communication. Read the following two stories which emphasize that joy is not based on having perfect circumstances but on having a right relationship with the Lord Jesus -

 

"In a letter written A.D. 250 by Cyprian to his friend Donatus: 'This is a cheerful world as I see it from my garden, under the shadow of my vines. But if I could ascend some high mountain and look very far, what would I see? Brigands on the highways, pirates on the seas, armies fighting, cities burning, in the amphitheaters people murdered to please applauding crowds, selfishness and cruelty, misery and despair under all roofs. It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy that is a thousand times better than any of the pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians - and I am one of them.' "

 

"The man who writes and draws the comic strip "Archie" had the privilege of seeing his father come to faith as an adult. This gave him an entirely new outlook on life. His father was the late Senator Fred A. Hartley Jr., coauthor of the Taft-Hartley Act. The cartoonist's new outlook became dramatically evident when his father became sick and for months was paralyzed in a hospital bed. He was unable to do a single thing for himself and knew that slowly he was coming nearer to the time of his death. In that condition he could say to his son, 'I am very happy.' " - (Both stories taken from the Encyclopedia Of Sermon Illustrations)

 

We - as Christians - have so much to rejoice about.

 

Here are 50 reasons why every Christian at all times and in all conditions should evermore "rejoice in the Lord" -

 

Ephesians 1:3 - We are "blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places"

Ephesians 1:6 - We are "accepted in the Beloved"
Ephesians 1:7 - We have "redemption" and  "forgiveness of sins" "through Jesus' Blood" 
Ephesians 2:1 - We are now made alive who were once "dead in trespasses and sins" 
Ephesians 2:6 - We are "raised up and made to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus"
Ephesians 2:19 - We are "no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God"
Ephesians 5:8 - We are "now...light in the Lord"
Colossians 1:5 - There is a "hope" "laid up for us in heaven"
Colossians 1:12 - We are "partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light"
Colossians 1:13 - We are "delivered...from the power of darkness" and "translated into the kingdom" of God
Colossians 2:10 - We are "complete in Him"
1 Thessalonians 1:9 - We have "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God"
Psalm 3:8 - God's blessing is upon us
Psalm 5:12 - We are "compassed" about "with favor as with a shield"
Psalm 13:6 - "The Lord has dealt bountifully with us"
Psalm 16:6 - We have "a goodly heritage"
Psalm 18:47 - "God" "avenges us"
Psalm 18:48 - He "delivers us from our enemies" and "lifts us up above those that rise up against us"
Psalm 21:2 - He gives us our "heart's desire" 
Psalm 21:3 - He goes before us with "the blessings of goodness"
Psalm 22:24 - He has "not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted"
Psalm 27:5 - "In the time of trouble He hides us in His pavilion"
Psalm 28:7 - Our hearts "trusted" in Him, and we are "helped"
Psalm 30:2 - We "cried" unto Him, and He "healed" us
Psalm 30:11 - He has "turned our mourning into dancing"
Psalm 31:8 - He "did not shut us up into the hand of the enemy"
Psalm 31:20 - He hides us in His presence "from the pride of man" and keeps us "in a pavilion from the strife of tongues"
Psalm 32:1 - Our "transgression is forgiven" and "sin is covered"
Psalm 34:4 - God "delivers" us "from all fears"
Psalm 34:17 - He "delivers" us from "all" of our "troubles"
Psalm 44:4 - He "commands deliverance" for us
Psalm 54:4 - He is "our helper"
Psalm 61:3 - He is a "shelter" for us and a "strong tower from the enemy"
Psalm 65:11 - He "crowns" our "years with His goodness"
Psalm 68:19 - He "daily loads us with benefits"

Psalm 68:35 - He "gives strength and power unto His people"
Psalm 73:24 - He "guides us with His counsel"
Psalm 85:8 - He "speaks peace to His people"
Psalm 86:13 - He "delivered our soul from the lowest hell"
Psalm 91:11 - He "gives His angels charge over us"
Psalm 94:22 - He is "our defense"
Psalm 103:3 - He "heals all our diseases"
Psalm 103:4 - He "redeems our life from destruction"

Psalm 103:5 - He "satisfies our mouth with good things"
Psalm 103:6 - He "executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed."

 

This list only scratches the surface of the many blessings that we share as a result of our salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, in spite of all these wonderful advantages, many of God's people are not very happy or joyful. Why is that? What could possibly be the reason?

 

There is one conceivable answer, and it is found in the same chapter of Philippians as our opening verse. Philippians 4:6 says - "Be careful for nothing..."

Some translations read - "Be anxious for nothing..."

The word "careful" means to be anxious, troubled with care, and to seek to promote one's interests.

 

As Christians, it is not wrong for us to be concerned about preserving our property or providing for our families. However, we must - at all times - demonstrate a total confidence in God to supply our every need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

We become anxious when we -

...begin to distrust Him and have a doubtful mind

...run ahead of Him, lag behind, or simply take matters into our own hands 

...see that things do not work out as we had planned or according to our schedule and timing

...have an unrestrained pursuit of the things of this world 

...or cannot get the things which we so desire and crave.

 

There is nothing that kills joy more than worry.

 

A worried Christian certainly cannot "rejoice in the Lord alway"(Philippians 4:4).  That is why - I believe - the Apostle Paul followed his command with a second one - "be careful for nothing"  (Philippians 4:6). He then exhorted all believers that "in every thing" - through prayer - they were to cast all their cares upon the Lord - knowing that He has given us the tool of prayer to present all of our needs to Him. We are to commit our way unto Him, trust Him, and believe that He will bring it to pass(Psalm 37:5).

 

As a final thought, let's look at what Oswald Chambers has to say about carefulness in a believer -

 

"Jesus sums up commonsense carefulness in a disciple as infidelity. If we have received the Spirit of God, He will press through and say - Now where does God come in in this relationship, in this mapped out holiday, in these new books? He always presses the point until we learn to make Him our first consideration. Whenever we put other things first, there is confusion.

'Take no thought..." don't take the pressure of forethought upon yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, it is infidelity, because worrying means that we do not think that God can look after the practical details of our lives, and it is never any thing else that worries us. Have you ever noticed what Jesus said would choke the word He puts in? The devil? No, the cares of this world. It is the little worries always. I will not trust where I cannot see, that is where infidelity begins. The only cure for infidelity is obedience to the Spirit..."

(End of quote by Oswald Chambers)

 

The cares of this life - the little things - choke the Word in our hearts.

 

They not only choke the Word, but they also rob us of any joy in the Lord.

We as Christians are commanded to "rejoice in the LORD alway..."

Nonetheless, it is impossible to obey this command when our lives are filled with the cares of the practical details of our lives.

 

It's time to cast all our cares upon the Lord in prayer.

As the songwriter said - "Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there..."
Then and only then can we "rejoice in the LORD alway" and truly enjoy our salvation.