A MERRY HEART

A merry heart doeth good

like a medicine:   but a broken spirit

drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

There was a day when just about every child in our country knew by heart most nursery rhymes.  I still have a picture in my mind, from when I was about five years old of Old King Cole.  I learned that he was a "merry old soul and a merry old soul was he."  I pictured a fat old man on a golden throne dressed in a red robe that had white fur trim on it.  I saw him as having a crown on his head that was a little lop-sided because he chuckled and laughed so much.  When he laughed, I pictured his tummy jiggling just like Santa Claus' supposedly did.  We had imaginations then (no TV), lots of books and people who read them to us.  Even as a little girl, I wondered if it would be possible for regular people to be merry old souls.

I saw this merry spirit in Miss Irene, my first grade teacher and others at Lincoln Grade School.  I saw it in Nellie Barker, the first Sunday school teacher I remember having at a pre-school age.  She was from England and we loved to hear her talk in her perky, friendly way.  I think of my most recent choir director, Fred.  Even when in serious conversation, that merry heart of his just comes shining through.  You leave his presence with a smile on your face whether you felt like smiling when first seeing him.  In all cases, and more, such people have been an encouragement in my worst of times and probably are responsible in great measure for whatever sense of humor I have now.

Our Scripture speaks of a merry heart.  We are to know that this merry, cheerful spirit is not something we just conjur up whenever we want to.  This merry spirit is something that is born in the heart and comes from God.  I realize that there are people who don't know God from a totem pole who give off an air of friendliness, caring and even glee; but, the REAL thing, comes from a relationship with the Lord.  This spirit springs from an inner joy that isn't controlled by circumstances.

Let's begin by defining what is meant by "merry" as Scripture views it.  In  Hebrew, the first definition given of this word in noun form is "good."  The verb form of the word "merry" means beautiful, best, better, cheerful, at ease, gracious, joyful, kindly, loving and pleasant.  When we read all of that, we have to agree that that's a whole lot of "merry."

Without any pretense, the person with the merry heart brings refreshment and at times, healing to just about any situation, thus the use of the word "medicine."  It isn't the kind of medicine a physician would prescribe.  When taken as ordered by a physician, such medications can affect a persons entire well being.  Some medicines may relieve pain or some may be preventative.  However, the medicine of the merry heart touches the emotional, mental and spiritual side of an individual all of which may in turn affect the physical side of the person as well.  I have known many people with merry hearts who are healing influences to others just by their very presence.

The other half of our verse cannot be overlooked.  Solomon in his wise writing through inspiration of the Holy Spirit addresses a broken spirit.  Matthew Henry in his commentary writes, regarding Proverbs 17:22:

"A broken spirit, sunk by the burden of afflictions, and especially a conscience wounded with a sense of guilt and fear of wrath, dries the bones, wastes the radical moisture, exhausts the very marrow and makes the body a mere skeleton.  We should, therefore, watch and pray against all melancholy dispositions for they lead us into trouble as well as into temptation."

A very kind orthopedic surgeon once told me that there is a definite correlation between the healing of a broken or surgically repaired bone and the inner spirit of the patient.  He stressed that having healthy marrow in the bones is of the utmost importance to overall health.  He smiled with a twinkle in his eye and said that in our day, an awful lot of folks are walking around with rotten bones.  So I guess we could say:

                        Broken Bone + Broken Spirit = Slow Physical Healing

I have to wonder how many people, especially Christians, are walking around with severe physical problems because the are first suffering from broken spirits and they may not realize it.

The merry heart is a wonderful thing to have...something we all should desire.  The broken spirit, however, does not just cause the spirit of a person much damage, but also is extremely damaging to the human body as well.  We will face problems and hurts, so the sooner we turn them over to God and deal with them spiritually, the healthier and merrier we will be.

There are some places we can begin to work on this.  Confession is a good place to begin.  If we can't think what sin we might have in our lives, a quick scan of Colossians 3 gives us a good check list.  The Holy Spirit is always ready to help us out in this area.  Turning everything of concern over to the Lord can lighten the spirit.  Being people of the Word and prayer can ensure we keep that extra skip in our spiritual step.  Let me add a suggestion.

Let me add that people who have this spiritual quality of being merry in heart are always appropriate in behavior.  This isn't a person has to be the clown of the party, who giggles a lot or who acts like a six year old wouldn't even act.  In fact, those with a merry heart may at the same time be going through heartache they would never reveal to anyone.  Being a person with a merry heart is not a goal...it's the end result of a sold out relationship with Jesus Christ. 

As a side line thought, those who are merry probably do a lot more singing than talking.

James 5:13 tells us:

Is any among you afflicted?

Let him pray.

Is any merry?

Let him sing psalms.

Scripture also promises that a merry heart can be ongoing and not a temporary thing.

Proverbs 15:15 says:

All the days of the afflicted are evil:

but he that is of a merry heart

hath a continual feast.

Notice that it isn't the afflicted who are evil but the days of the afflicted.  We live in a terrible, confusing and troubling world.  All of us can fall into affliction just because of the times we live in, but we don't have to stay there.  For those merry in heart, life is one big spiritual feast even though they may be going through times of great suffering.  Circumstances change nothing for the merry in heart.

Old King Cole may have been a merry old soul but what about us?  Can others view you and me as being merry of spirit...healers, encouragers...filled with the joy of Jesus.  He came that we might have life and have it in abundance.  There are those troubled in spirit who need to see the joy and merryment of the Lord Jesus in us.

PRAYER:

Dear Jesus...I long to be a reflection of You.  I believe every positive quality found in the Bible was a part of You as You walked on this earth.  I know that a merry heart isn't something I can pretend to have...it's either a part of me or it isn't.  Help me to be an encouragement to others, but before that, I want all You are to be a part of me.  Thank You for allowing me to be a part of Your kingdom plan.   Amen.