The Joy of Living
Today’s Verse:
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. ~Ecclesiastes 9:8
Do you live in the sphere of joy? Charles Spurgeon said, “There is a marvelous medicinal power in joy. Most medicines are distasteful; but this, which is the best of all medicines, is sweet to the taste, and comforting to the heart. This blessed joy is very contagious.” Solomon gives us three areas where we can maximize the joy of living.
There is joy in moral purity.
“Let thy garments be always white.” White garments have always been symbolic of celebration and purity. Wearing white indicated both internal and external wholesomeness and purity. The idea of purity is that there is nothing defiling, spotted, or dirty about a person’s character or life. Moral purity should be a priority. Job said, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” Paul commanded that we should “Flee fornication” and, “Flee also youthful lusts.” The requirements for a pastor is that he should be blameless and the husband of one wife. Moral purity must be protected. We must decide to avoid places and people that could lead us into sins of immorality. We must be careful of what we see, read, hear, and are influenced by. Moral purity must be pursued. Our garments should be always white. They must be white at all seasons of life. There is real joy when we live a life of purity.
There is joy in ministering power.
“Let thy head lack no ointment.” The anointing of oil on one’s head represented comfort, joy, and refreshment. Guests at a festive event would have ointment poured on their head to refresh them and give a sweet aromatic odor. David said in Psalm 23:6, “Thou anointest my head with oil.” Mary poured ointment on the head of Jesus at a dinner held at Simon the leper’s house. In Isaiah, the anointing of oil was referred to as the oil of gladness. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. There are two thoughts on this. First, we must minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s work must be done in God’s way and in God’s power. Second, when the power of the Holy Spirit is on us, we have maximized joy in our service to the Lord.
There is joy in marital partnership.
“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou loves all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.” Married couples who are happiest live joyfully with one another. They make it their goal to please and fulfill their spouse, and not live in the sphere that their spouse is supposed to please them. Living joyfully means to find opportunity to please your spouse. It is doing things together. It is two becoming one and two being better than one. It is living to be one flesh in life. It is being constructive and not critical. It is building up and not breaking down. It is being contented and not being contentious. It is consolidation of two lives, and not trying to be controlling of the other.
God wants us to experience the joy of living in our relationships and responsibilities. Get away from becoming a burned-out, bitter, miserable, and unhappy person. God never intended any of us to live in unhappiness. Surrender the past failures, and experience the joy of living!
Have a joyful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Corinthians 10-13