JOY Formula

(Proverbs 23:15 KJV)  My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

We have here an expression of love.  In this case it is wrapped up in the concern of a father for his son, but it is still love.  It is an expression of agape.  Sooner or later in your Christian walk you will come to realize that it isn’t all about you.  We are called to be salt and life, not the main dish.  We are to season and preserve.  One of the big ways that Christians do this is by being concerned about the well being and growth of others.  I mean real concern, not the lip service paid by people trying to get elected, appointed or promoted. 

This verse and the next reflect the thinking in Corinthians:

    1CO 13:6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

We are to rejoice when others are aware of the truth and responding to the things of God.  I am finding this idea expressed many ways and places in the Bible.  My prayer is that it would be expressed many ways and places in my life and yours.

So?  Turn your concern outward.  How many people will you pass today who really have no single person in their life who would do what is best for them?  I don’t remember singing it when I was a kid but I remember leading it in Sunday School when my children were small.

Jesus and Others and You.
What a wonderful way to spell JOY.
Jesus and Others and You,
In the heart of each girl and each boy.
J is for Jesus for He takes first place.
O is for Others you meet face to face.
Y is for You and whatever you do.
Put yourself last and spell JOY.

As the commercial said, “Try it, you’ll like it.”