Joy


Jerry Wilhite, author

In this study I use very few verses, but the meat is not small.

The Lord has been dealing with me about being content with what I have. He started showing me how being content was the road to real joy.

Past believers have had real joy by being content with what their surroundings were. It did not matter if they had or lacked, were in persecution or being put to death. As long as they were content the joy flowed.

I am not saying we should not expect more and believe we will receive; it does say in Hebrews 11:6 that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. And in Matthew 6:33 Jesus said if we seek first the Kingdom of God and all of His rightousnes that all this will be added.

But if we are always unhappy at where we are, and always looking to the other side of the hill for greener grass, we will never be content long enough to receive the joy.

We do not receive joy from things, not even people, but from being content with our life.

If you allow God to show you His joy, you will find out just how content you can be with nothing.

Let's look at some scripture.

1 Samuel 18:6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

Joy also comes in praise, but praise does not happen if you are not content. They were content with the victory. They were not sitting around complaining about how much they should have gotten out of the spoils of the battle. No they were content with the victory and then joy came in praise.

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

The joy of the Lord is our strength, so we get our strength from His joy. Well, that can not happen if we are not content. If you are not content then you are contemplating something more that you want or need (or at least think you need). While you are contemplating, the joy is trying to come in, but the room is full of your thoughts about the lack you are "suffering".

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.

Hebrews 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

In every stage of our life we should be content with what we have. Always expecting more, but content, we should always expect more because our Father in heaven is a loving and generous Father. There are more than enough verses to back up and prove the fact He wants to give us more. But too often we are looking at His hand and not Him.

Don't you get tired of hearing how much someone needs or how much they want or expect, never content with what they have or can have with a little hard work. Some even expect it to be given to them. Now how are our needs to be met?

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

So what are the riches in glory by Christ Jesus? We are, those who believe, those for whom He died.

So how are our needs to be met? By each other. God will supply our needs by each other. But first we need to learn to be content. So while we are content God can work through us and others to take care of our needs.

I know this, that those who seek to help others will never be without, God will see to that. I have some very good friends who tithe to this ministry and help me when ever I need it, and due to their help I have been saved a lot in just interest that I would of had to pay on this computer I am using to produce this study. If more people were like them, there would be less and less who would have needs. I praise God for those He has put in my life, both those who help me and those I can help. Oh yes, I help others as I can. And I enjoy it, because I know that as I do, it will be passed on to others, so the seed goes far.

He (Jesus) did tell us we could have the desires of our heart.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].

But remember what else He said.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

So we have to believe, not doubt, forgive and be content. And our desires will come.

But the main thing we are looking at is joy, and joy comes in praise when you are content with your life.

The believers in Rome went to the lions singing; they had joy; they were content being dinner for the lions. No, not just to die, but because they would soon be with the Lord and that is real joy. In the next life you will have no need of the things of this life. Now the next one is forever, and this one is just a blink in time. So why let lack or discontentment cut you off from your joy?

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].

This is what we should strive for, the above two verses, not things of this world that perish in time, but those things that never perish.

Learn to be content, no matter what the surroundings say, because they will change. How many times have you been in a problem that you thought was the end, or out of which you saw no way out? But you survived it, and when good times came you forgot it. At the time it seemed to consume you, like it was the whole world and your whole life. But it wasn't and you survived it. When you learn to be content the problems will seem less and less like problems, and you will find joy even in the worst of problems.

My prayer for you is that you learn to be content and have the joy of the Lord in your life. Amen

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