Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Excellence”
Our Bible verse for today: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “A cheerful disposition is good for you and for those around you.”
I remember two men I used to work with. Both were Christians and both worked in a Christian ministry. The first man was intense. Well, that’s an understatement really. He was high-strung, temperamental, and often harsh. But he did get things done. He was usually extremely focused on the task-at-hand and when it came to producing results, he did. But he sure was tough to be around.
The second man was almost the polar opposite. He was relaxed and easy-going, usually happy and laughing. In truth, in didn’t accomplish anywhere near as much as the first guy did, but he sure was nicer to work with.
Now, which man was living an “excellent” Christian life? Well, neither, or both, depending on your definition of excellence. They both had strengths and weaknesses. If you’re looking for results then I guess you would have to vote for the first guy. If you’re thinking about which of them could be counted on to bring a smile to your face and make your day a little better, then hands down you would prefer the second man.
Biblically I would vote for the second guy. While getting things done is important, blessing people and making them smile is more important. There’s an old saying that goes, “God created us as human beings, not as human doings.” In other words, God is more concerned with how you are than with what you do.
Looking at Solomon’s Proverb in 17:22 above, the second guy had a joyful heart that was good medicine for himself and for those around him. The first guy was productive but relatively joyless. A broken spirit and dried up bones describes him fairly well actually. And, sadly, he had a way of making others feel that way too.
Ideally we want to be both joyful and productive – but with extra emphasis on the joyful part. As you go about your day today, establishing your priorities, checking things off your to-do list, and getting things done, don’t allow your push for productively to steal your joy.
A cheerful disposition is good for you – and for those around you.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 