Deadly Duty!

I am a very dutiful guy, who takes responsibility seriously, and who has trouble just letting go and playing. Four years ago I bought a little Miata convertible. I don’t need it. It isn’t practical and yes, buying that little silver car is one of the more frivolous things I have done in my adult life.  But, on a sunny day, I enjoy dropping the top, turning up the tunes, and hitting the road.  A lot of times at that very moment a stab of guilt will insert itself:  "Shouldn't you be doing _________?" and I struggle with the urge to go back to do some job yet undone.  Or I think, "How could you 'waste' this kind of money when there are so many needs around you?"   

Dutiful people can look very admirable and godly with all their responsibility and seriousness. But we all need to recall that in the list of the fruit of the Spirit the second quality is joy. I’m not equating joy with owning a convertible or doing silly things. My point is that God laughs, too. When Jesus taught about His intimate life-giving connection to us, using the metaphor of the vine and branches, He said that from Him we will draw life and "you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" (John 15:11, NLT)     A joyless Christian, who is often overwhelmed with his duties, is missing the point somewhere and failing to honor the Lord with faith!

Oh, I have not forgotten that the Scripture tells us that Jesus was "a man acquainted with grief, a man of sorrows."   He did weep with those who were broken by disappointment, death, and disease. Even yesterday, as I held the hand of an aged mother who was burying her fourth child, I wept!  Life is full of trouble and sadness. We are foolish if we refuse to let ourselves be touched by that reality,  But, it’s not all death and duty!  Jesus earned harsh criticism from the dutiful religious professionals for going out to dinner with people that most thought of as worthless sinners. He attracted people to Him everywhere He went.  It is not a stretch of imagination to think that He did so by knowing how to laugh and lift them up.  Make whatever you want of this, but the Gospels tell us that Jesus’ first miracle was supplying wine for a wedding!   Somehow, for most of us, the only picture of the face of Jesus is the tear-stained one He wore on the night of Gethsemane's agony.  We forget that kids loved Him, that crowds were drawn to Him, and that He spent a lot of time with so-called 'street people,' - a clue that He had to be a joyful man, too.

So, how do we live in His joy?

Worship!  "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11, NIV)    If we live life, with our face to the ground, focusing only on the needs, the duties, the pressing responsibilities - we will be overcome with fatigue, if not outright depressed.  Worship, offering up the sacrifice of praise, lifts our face to Heaven and allows us to regain a view of God's glorious works.  No wonder the Scripture urges us to "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." (Psalm 95:1-2, NIV)

Serve!   The real paradox of joy is that you cannot find it in vanity and in and endless pursuit of pleasure. Selfishness cuts us off from God's approval and that is our greatest source of joy!  Jesus told a story about men who were entrusted with responsibility.   Two of the three were diligent and obedient in their service.  Note their commendation:  "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful . . .  Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23, NKJV)

Submit!   Accepting God's grace for the road you will walk today is important.  Nothing that happens to you today surprises Him.   Those who are His beloved children can turn to Him and find help, strength, and resources. Sometimes He leads us through dark valleys, along ways we would not choose for ourselves.  And, He gives grace for the journey.  If we submit to His leadership,  we can find joy even in the trials of life.  Do not confuse happiness, a transitory emotion that is largely based on pleasant circumstances, with genuine joy.   Joy is a constant work of God's Spirit in us, not something we drum up, create, or paste into place.  

Is dutiful responsibility draining away your joy?  Here’s a word from the Word, our reminder of joy in the Lord.

"He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols." (Psalm 40:2-4, NLT)

I pray for the joy of the Lord to fill my heart and mind so that I will honor Him even with my contentment and smile.  
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Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ.
While fields and floods,
Rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove.
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, and wonders of His love.
Joy to the World
Isaac Watts© Public Domain