This week, I was running in an area where, each Tuesday, I encounter a man, about my age, rummaging through the rubbish bins placed on the street awaiting collection. In a familiar scene, he gleans what he can, presumably for sale as scrap: plastic containers and empty cans. When I greet him, he always responds with a wide and cheerful grin. Though obviously very poor, he seems to abound with great joy—joy that grabbed my heart; joy that that is unattached to possessions or circumstances. That is, pure and thus enviable joy.
As I ran, I was meditating on Psalm 4:7. Amid a life of enemies, the psalmist praises God, acknowledging, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” Whoever the writer’s enemies, it is clear that they had joy that was dependent upon a full barn and a full cellar. Their joy was tied to things material, whereas the joy of the psalmist, who may have been without such material bounty, was a pure joy. His joy was an intangible and thus enviable gift from God. Brothers and sisters, this is the believer’s birthright and it is also our birthmark. To have our sins forgiven, to be reconciled to God, to be both a new creation and a part of God’s new creation, provides plenty of grounds for pure joy, which is not dependent upon grain and wine abounding.
As I continued to run, I thought, “I would wager that this ‘glad and grinning’ man is a Christian.” I looped back, hoping he was still in the area because I wanted to ask him if he was. Soon I saw him, ran up to him, greeted him and said, “Every time I see you, you are so friendly and so joyful. Are you a Christian? Do you know the Lord?” He grinned and with a joyful response he said, “Yes!” I said, “I thought so. Your joy is a blessing. Keep smiling!”
As I continued on my run, I was deeply challenged as I thought about this man who makes his living by scratching through the bins of those, like myself, whose “grain and wine” does abound. In fact, it abounds to such a degree that I need a rubbish bin!
I once heard Bible scholar Ralph Davies say that, one day, while he was complaining about having to take out the rubbish, it suddenly occurred to him as he grabbed the bag, “Thank you Lord: I have garbage!” He realised that he had rubbish because God had graciously blessed him with food and with things and therefore the presence of trash was evidence of God’s provision. So it is with everyone reading this. But if our rubbish bins are empty, will our joy remain? That is, is our joy pure?
As I thought about my new acquaintance, and as I mused on Psalm 4:7, I was convicted about my unhappiness about needing to take our new car for an assessment on its recent “injury” inflicted by a stationary concrete pole! Here was a man, rummaging through rubbish with obvious joy, and I was bemoaning scratches on a new car, something he will probably never have. This man’s joy reminded me afresh that biblical joy—“gospel joy”—is not dependent upon circumstances. The joy that God gives is far more substantial than that arising from a crop of grain or a cask of wine.
In Psalm 4, the writer reminds us of the superficial, ethereal joy that is circumstantial—in this case, dependent on the cupboard and wine cellar. For many, if these are full, then joy abounds. Doubtless, all of us can relate to this. When our health is good, we are at peace. When the salary covers the expenses, we smile. When the relationship is hassle-free, we are happy. When the bank balance or investment is growing, our spirits are high. When our “love tank” is sufficiently filled by the affirmation and affection of others, we have joy. Of course, there is nothing essentially wrong with these happy providences—as long as these circumstances are not the source of ultimate contentment. These can be the proverbial icing on the cake—the cake being meaningful, joyful fellowship with the Lord. To know that he loves us, to know the gift of joy coming from his gracious hand, is, for the Christian, pure joy. And pure joy, like my brother, is enviable.
I have been following the Lord for a long time and I can’t think of an instance where a total stranger was so struck by my countenance and demeanour that they made the effort to seek me out to ask why I am so joyful. But perhaps this recent meditation and encounter will equip me to live such a life of pure joy.
Perhaps I was so struck by this man’s joyful grin and greeting precisely because of his circumstances. The contrast created by his apparent poverty coupled with a wide, toothy smile was striking. There is a lesson here for us. This sin-soaked fallen world can seem like a rubbish bin of sorrow, sickness, failures, and all kinds of brokenness. And yet as we walk and work amid such unattractiveness this is precisely where true, pure joy in Christ stands out.
Christian, when we experience disappointment, disease, betrayal, financial calamity, and other hardships in this life—that is, when our “grain and wine” do not abound—this provides occasion for our joy to abound and for us to experience the Spirit’s gift of joy placed in our hearts.
It is not surprising to be greeted with a cheerful grin by someone pulling out of their attractively paved driveway in their nice car as they head for the gym while sipping a latte. That scenario seems to demand a smile. But a truly joyful smile from someone on that same street who lives hand to mouth, well, that is remarkable. Such pure joy is enviable. May such pure joy be everyone who knows the Lord.
Doug