| (Copyright) by David Antion (Pasadena, California) |
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| If joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, can the unconverted ever have joy? The answer is YES! God has provided many types of joy, gladness, and rejoicing in this mundane life that any or all even non-religious people can have. What a miserable world it would be if there were no occasions for joy! The Bible shows that people can have joy in the person they love (Ecclesiastes 9:9). People have gladness and joy at weddings and a wife should bring her husband joy (Proverbs 5:18). The birth of children and grandchildren and subsequent contact with those they love (Psalms 113:9). A wise and righteous son makes his father rejoice (have joy). See Proverbs 10:1; 23:24 . There can be joy in the accomplishment of work or hobby. “…there is nothing better than that man (person) should rejoice in his own works…” (Ecclesiastes 3:22; 5:19). There can be joy in eating and drinking: “There is nothing better for a man (person) than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw that it was from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24). A person can rejoice in the good things that s/he accomplishes in this life and the kind acts they do: “…but for a (person) to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man (person) should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13). Young men (and women) can rejoice in their youth — being vital and full of energy, hope, and expectations (Ecclesiastes 11:9). Various pleasures such as eating, and drinking provide some of the joys that help people to enjoy life (Ecclesiastes 8:15). God gives these joys to humans in the course of their lives. “Behold what I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion and has given him power to eat (partake) thereof, and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). One of the purposes of wine according to the Bible is to cheer people and make glad the heart of man and figuratively cheer even God. See Psalm 104:15 & Judges 9:13. A good word spoken or somehow communicated can bring joy. “Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad” (Proverbs 12:25 NAS). Also, a friendly look can cheer up the person and bring joy: “Bright eyes gladden the heart…” (Proverbs 15:30 NAS). There are inner joys that no one else can really understand but the individual experiencing them (Proverbs 4:10). And a wise man knows the value of the joys of the heart. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22 NAS). ————————————————————————— Reprinted with permission from: Guardian Ministries http://daveantion.com/ ————————————————————————— |
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