Cheerfulness: The Healing Power of a Merry Heart

That's what you have in the Hebrew in Proverbs 17:22. A literal translation would be, “A cheerful heart causes good healing.” What the Bible is ... Cheerfulness:TheHealingPowerofaMerryHeart Proverbs17:22 November13,1994|RayPritchard IamalittlemoreexhaustedthanusualbecauseI’mcomingoffaweekandahalfthathasbeenapersonallydrainingtimeformeandmyfamily.About10daysago,Marlenewentintoseethedoctor,whofoundsomethingshedidn’tlike.OnFriday,MarlenehadthreehoursofsurgeryandisupatLutheranGeneralHospitalinParkRidge.Sheisdoingfine.Thesurgerywassuccessful,buttherewassomeworrygoingintoitthattheymightfindsomecancer.Theydidn’tandshereceivedacleanbillofhealth.Iampersonallywearyandalittlewornout.IwasthinkingthatitisironicthatmanyweeksagowhenIsetupthissermonseriesonProverbs,IsetthisparticularSundayasthedaytopreachoncheerfulness.IhavebeentryingtothinkallweeklongwhatIwouldhavetosayonthissubjectthatwouldberemotelycheerful.WhatIfeelisthatIneedagoodnap. Ihavebeenmeditatinginthelastfewdays.I’vespentalotoftimeatthehospital,whichgivesyouplentyoftimetothink,becausehospitaldaysdon’tlast24hours,theylast72hours.Youlookattheclockthinkingithasbeenfiveminutesandithasonlybeenthirtyseconds.Twentyminuteslaterithasonlybeenthreemoreminutes.Thisgivesyouplentyoftimetothink.Iwasponderingthatage-oldquestion:areyouanoptimistorapessimist?Whenyouseetheglassofwater,isithalffullorhalfempty?Whenyoupersonallygothroughoneofthoseweeksthatweallgothrougheventually(andsomeofusgothroughregularly),areyoubasicallypositiveattheend,orareyoubasicallynegative? Areyouanoptimistorapessimist? Someonehassaiditthisway:betweentheoptimistandthepessimist,thedifferenceisdroll;theoptimistseesthedoughnut,thepessimistseesthehole.Ithasbeenwellsaidthattheoptimististhepersonwhoinventedtheairplaneandthepessimistthepersonwhoinventedtheparachute.Youneedthemboth.Youneedthepositiveaspectoflifeaswellasthataspectoflifethatlooksontheproblemandsays,“Well,lifeisn’tjustabowlofcherries.Therearepitsinthere,too.”Youneedtobebothoptimisticandpessimistic.Youhavetocometoaplaceofbiblicalrealism. IhavebeenthinkingthisweekasourfamilyhasgonethroughwhatIwouldsaywasacrisis.Whenyouhavemajorsurgeryofalovedone,itisacrisis.Evenifitisagoodresult,youdon’tknowhowitwillturnoutgoingin.AsIthoughtaboutallofthat,Ihavebeenthinkingaboutmysubjectofcheerfulness. Iwanttosharewithyoutodayalittleaboutbiblicalrealism,notoptimismorpessimism.Inordertodothatandgetourthoughtsclearlyfocused,let’sgotothebookofProverbs.Let’sreadanumberofverses. “Ananxiousheartweighsamandown,butakindwordcheershimup.” Proverbs12:25 Thisismostlyobservation.Kindwordscheerupthosewhoarediscouraged. “Eachheartknowsitsownbitterness,andnooneelsecanshareitsjoy.”Proverbs14:10 Thefirstpartofthatiscertainlytrue.Therearethoseofuswhohavesecretsorrows.Therearethoseofuswhothoughwemaylookgoodandmaybewelldressedandhaveasmileonourface,behindthatsmilethereisastoryofsorrowandheartachethatwedon’tsharewithanyoneelse. “Eveninlaughtertheheartmayache,andjoymayendingrief.”Proverbs14:13 Howtrueitisthatevenwhenwearelaughingandputtingonabravefaceforthecrowd,evenwhenwe’regoingthroughthemotionsandtryingtobeverypositive,ontheinsidetheremaybeturmoil,heartache,discouragementandevendespair.Justbecauseyouseesomebodylaughingandsmiling,itdoesn’tmeanthateverythingiscompletelyO.K.Underneaththatlaughtertheremaybesomethingyouknownothingabout. “Aheartatpeacegiveslifetothebody,butenvyrotsthebones.”Proverbs14:30 Thisisalifeverse.Envyrotsthebones.IntheHebrewitliterallymeansenvymakesthebonesdisintegrate.Thisisanimportantverse.Thisverseistellingusthatthereissomekindofconnectionbetweenthespiritualandthephysical.Thereissomekindofconnectionbetweentheheartandthebody,betweenwhatgoesoninsideandwhathappensoutside.Theattitudeofthehearthasadirectimpactonthephysicalwell-beingorlackthereof.Ifyourheartisatpeace,itgiveslifetothebody.Envycausesthebonesofthebodytodisintegrate. “Ahappyheartmakesthefacecheerful,butheartachecrushesthespirit.” Proverbs15:13 “Allthedaysoftheoppressedarewretched,butthecheerfulhearthasacontinualfeast.”Proverbs15:15 ThecheerfulhearteatsafeastatthetableoftheLord. Nowturntothethemeverseforthissermon.ItisfoundinProverbs17:22,whichsays,“Acheerfulheartisgoodmedicine,butacrushedspiritdriesupthebones.”ThisisoneofthoseplaceswhereIbelievetheKingJamesversionisabettertranslation.TheKingJamessays,“Amerryheartdoethgoodlikeamedicine.”ThatisabettertranslationoftheHebrew.Youshouldputastarbythisverse.Itissuggestingsomethingtous.Ittellsusthatthereisarelationshipbetweentheconditionoftheheartandtheconditionofthebody.Thereisarelationshipbetweenphysicalandspiritualhealth.“Acrushedspiritdriesupthebones,”literallymeansitsucksoutthemarrowoflifefromthebones. Thereisarelationshipbetweentheconditionoftheheartandtheconditionofthebody. Proverbs18:1says,“Aman’sspiritsustainshiminsickness,butacrushedspiritwhocanbear?”Weallknowpeoplewhostrugglewithsicknessandweakness,yetwhenyougotoseethem,theycheeryouup—peoplewhoaredownandoutphysically,butwhenyougotoseethem,theyactuallymakeyoufeelbetterbecausetheyarestronginspiriteventhoughtheirbodyiswastingaway.Ontheotherhand,weallknowpeoplewhoaresickandyettheirspiritiscrushed.Whenyougotoseethem,youfeelworsewhenyouleavethanwhenyoucame,becausetheyhavesuckedallthelifeoutofyouaswell. Theseversesaretellingusthatthereisabasicrelationshipbetweenyourmentalattitudeandyourphysicalwell-being.Saidanotherway,whatyouareinyourhearthasadirectbearingonyourphysicalhealth.Whatisontheinsideeventuallymanifestsitselfphysicallyontheoutside.Havingsaidthat,Iwanttoaskandanswertwoquestions: 1.Whyisitthatamerryheartissoimportant? A.BecauseofthetruthofRomans8:28. “AndweknowthatinallthingsGodworkforthegoodofthosewholovehim,whohavebeencalledaccordingtohispurpose.” Itisadifficultworldoutthere,aworldfilledwithsin,sickness,heartacheanddespair.ThankGod,sinisnotthefinalwordinthisworld.Thereisawordbeyondsin,beyondthefall,beyonddegradation,andthatwordisJesus.BecauseJesusChristhascomeintotheworld,thereisnowhealing,salvation,forgivenessanddeliverance.WhatdoesRomans8:28meanby“allthings”?Howinclusiveisit?Itisutterlyinclusive.ItincludesallthatcanhappeninthelifeofachildofGod.Itincludesthegoodandthebad,healthandsickness,wealthandpoverty,thesunlightandtheshadow,highnoonandmidnight,lifeanddeath.ItisallthatcanhappeninthewillofGodtoachildofGod.ThatmeansthatRomans8:28isstilltrue,justastrueinthehospitalasinthesanctuary.Itmeansthatwhenyouareinthewaitingroomandthatclockwillnotmoveandyouknowyourlovedoneisinthehandsofasurgeon,thatnomattertheoutcome,whetherlifeordeathorcancerornocancer,whetheryouseeheragainornot,youknowthatmomentisinGod’shands.Itispartofthe“allthings”thatworktogetherforgood. ThereisnothingthatcanhappentothechildofGodthatisoutsideofthe“allthings”ofRomans8:28. ThisweekIhavebeenmeditatingalittleonPresidentReaganandtheletterhewroteonSaturdaytotheAmericanpeople.Attheageof83,hewrotethatletterinwhichhesaidhehasjustbeendiagnosedashavingAlzheimer’s.Icommentedonthatinmylastsermon,butatthattimeIhadnotreadtheletter.Ireaditthisweek;itwasprintedintheChicagoTribune.Iencourageanyofyouwhohaven’t,toreadit.Itisawonderfulstatementoffaith.ThepeoplewhoknowPresidentReagansaythatheistrulyabornagainChristianman.HewrotethisletterfromwhatIwouldconsiderthestandpointoftheChristianfaith.Hesaidinthatletter, “IwritebecauseIdonotwanttokeepasecretfromtheAmericanpeople.Mywifehadbreastcancerandwetoldyou;theytriedtoassassinateme,andwetoldyou;andnowIhavebeendiagnosedwithAlzheimer’sandIwanttotellyou.IwantyoutoknowthissothatyouwillknowaboutusandsothatIcanencourageotherpeoplewhosefamiliesmaybegoingthroughthisdisease.ThereissomestigmainsomeplacesattachedtoAlzheimer’s.Asforme,Ifeelverygoodrightnow,andaslongasIamable,IwillcontinuetodoallthethingsIhavebeendoing.Inowbeginthejourneythatwillcarrymeintothesunsetoflife.” Thatisabeautifulphrase.Itispicturesqueandinthedeepestsenseitisalsoabiblicalphrase.Attheendofhisletterhesaid,“UntiltheLordcallsmehome,IintendtodowhatIhavealwaysdone—tohelppeopleinwhateverwayIcan.”Hereisaman,whetherheknowsitornot,whounderstandsthatallthingsworktogetherforgood.Hereisamanwhocanlookatadiseasethatwillsuckthelifeawayfromhim,andsay,“IstillbelieveinGod.IstillbelievetheLordhasaplanforme.” AmerryheartisimportantbecauseGodissayingtous,“Mychildren,sometimesyouwillfacethingsthatyoucan’tunderstand.Sometimesyouaregoingtofaceheartacheandpainanddifficultythatgoesfarbeyondanythingyouthoughtyoucouldendure.Sometimesyouwillbeinthewaitingroomoflifeforweeksandmonthsandyears,butIwantyoutoknowthateventhereIamwithyouandamworkingoutmyplaninyourlife.” Howcanyouhaveamerryhearteveninthedarkestmomentsoflife? Whatwearetodoatthosemomentsistostandbackandoverthoseunexplainablethingsoflifewearetoerectasignthatsays,“Shhh.Quiet.Godatwork.”Romans8:28tellsusthatGodisatworkwhetherweseeitornot,whetherwefeelitornot,whetherweunderstanditornot,whetherwebelieveitornot.Soourattitudemakesallthedifferenceatthatmoment.Thequestionisnot,“Dowehavetheanswers?”becauseIcanassureyouthatatthatmomentyouwillnothavetheanswer.Thequestionis,“DoyoubelievethereisaGodwhoisatworkinthissituation?”TheChristiananswerisYES.Thatishowyoucanhaveamerryhearteveninthedarkestmomentoflife.YoucanhaveacheerfulspiritifyoubelievethereisaGodinheavenwholovesyou,whoisatworkinwaysthatyoucan’tsee,believeorunderstand. B.BecauseofProverbs17:22.Readitagain. “Amerryheartdoethgoodlikemedicine.” TheHebrewlanguagehasanumberoftensesinit.Oneofthetensesiscalledthecausativetense.Youputaverbinthecausativetensewhenyouwanttosaythatonethingcausesanothertohappen.That’swhatyouhaveintheHebrewinProverbs17:22.Aliteraltranslationwouldbe,“Acheerfulheartcausesgoodhealing.”WhattheBibleistellingushereisthatyourattitude,thewayyouapproachtheproblemsandtrialsoflife,actuallybringsaboutgoodhealing.Thatisamazing. Yourattitude,thewayyouapproachtheproblemsandtrialsoflife,bringsaboutgoodhealing. IhavetoldyoubeforethestoryofDr.NormanCousins,whoforanumberofyearswasonthemedicalstaffattheUCLASchoolofMedicine.About25yearsago,Dr.Cousinswasdiagnosedwithhavingastrange,rarekindofdiseasethatdestroystheconnectivetissueofthebody.Thedoctorsgavehimthebatteryofexpensivetestsandsaid,“Sorry,thereisreallynothingwecando.Itisdegenerativeandyouaregoingtodie.”Dr.Cousinssaid,“Well,Ididn’twanttojustgiveup.”Sohesethimselfonaregimenofexercise,highdosesofVitaminC,andthenheaddedanunusualthing.HerentedaprojectorandrentedMarxBrothersandThreeStoogesmoviesandallthecartoonshecouldfind.Forhourseachday,hewouldtakehisVitaminCandwatchtheMarxBrothersandThreeStoogesandwouldlaughhisheadoff.Whathediscoveredwasthattenminutesofheartylaughtergavehimawholehourfreefrompain.Sohewouldwatchthosemoviesoverandoverandoveragain.Hediscovered,ashedidthis,thathebegantogetbetter.Thedaycamewhenhewentbacktothedoctorsandtheysaid,“Wedon’tknowwhathappened,becausethiswasanincurabledisease;butasfarasweknow,youarecompletelycured.”Helivedaboutanother20yearsafterthatandwroteabookcalledAnatomyofanIllness,inwhichhemadethepointthatyourmentalattitude,thecheerfulnessorlackthereof,hasagreatdealtodowithwhetheryougetsick,howbadyougetsick,whetheryougetwell,andhowquicklyyougetwell.AllIwanttosayisthatwhathediscoveredisnothingmorethanwhatSolomontoldus3000yearsago,whichisthatamerryheartcausesgoodhealing. Severalyearsago,whenIwantedtoresearchthisout,Icalledacoupleofthedoctorsinourchurch.Iaskedthemtocorroboratethisfromtheirownmedicalresearch.Wehaveallwonderedwhatthementalframeofmindhastodowiththehealingprocessfromaphysician’spointofview.Theanswertheygavemewasthesame.Atfirsttheywouldbeverycautiousandsayresearchwasunsureaboutit.ThenIwouldaskthemabouttheirownexperience,andthatwaswhereitgotinteresting.AllthedoctorsItalkedtosaidthesamething.Theytoldstoryafterstoryofpeoplewhohadcometothem,deathlysick,yetwhogotbetteramazinglyfastbecausetheywentinwithapositivespiritandweresurroundedbypositivepeople.Thedoctorsalsotoldmestoriesaboutpeoplewhoshouldhavegottenbetter,butwhogotmuchworse,weresickalongtime,andinsomecasesdied,evidentlybecausetheyhadsuchanegative,hostile,hopelessspiritaboutthem.ThenIaskedoneotherquestion,“DoyounoticeanydifferenceinyourpracticebetweenChristiansandnon-Christians?”Theimmediateanswerwas,“Yes,weseeeveryday,abigdifferencewhenwetreatsomebodywhoknowsJesusChristandsomebodywhodoesn’t.Weseeatremendousdifferenceinthehealingprocess,intheattitudeofthosewhoknowtheLord,versusthosewhodonot.”Whyshouldthatsurpriseus?WhyshoulditsurpriseustoreadaboutNormanCousins?AllofthatisnothingmorethanwhatwaswrittenintheBible3000yearsago.Solomonsaiditandmodernmedicalscienceisjustnowcatchingupwithit. Sothen,Iwanttofinishthissermonbygivingyousomesuggestionsastohowwecancultivateamerryheart.Wouldyoulikeamerryheart? 1.CultivateyourrelationshipwithGod. MakesurethatyouspendtimewiththeLord.Don’tjustseekpeacewithGod,butrememberwehavepeacewithGodthroughtheLordJesusChrist.Romans5:1. 2.Cultivateaforgivingspirit. Ephesians4:32says,“Bekindtooneanother,tenderheartedandgentle,forgivingoneanotherasGodforChrist’ssakehasforgivenyou.”Therearepeoplewhoaresufferingphysicallybecausetheyareangry,bitterandrefusetoforgive. TherewasastoryintheChicagoTribuneyesterday.Theheadlinereads,“PastorFormsaBondWithSon’sKiller.”ThisisapastorinConnecticutwhosesonwasmurdered.Hebecamefriendswiththemanwhokilledhisson.TheReverendWalterEveretthasforgiventhemanwhokilledhissonsevenyearsago.Healsohelpedgethimoutofprisonearly,andonSaturdayhewillofficiateattheman’swedding.Thereisaquotefromthepastor.“Ihadknownpeoplewhoselovedoneshadbeenmurderedandyearsafterwardtheystillseemedconsumedbytheangerandhatred.Ididn’twantthattohappentome.”Thentheytalkaboutthemanwhokilledhisson,amanbythenameofCarlucci.ThearticlesaysCarluccifeelsredeemedbyWalterEverett’scompassion,butlikeothers,hecan’tfullyunderstandhowthepastorcouldforgivehim.“Ihaveathirteenyearolddaughter,andifanybodyhurther,I’dprobablyfeellikeIwouldhavetohurthim.”Thenitquotesamomentinthejailwhenthepastorforgavethemanwhokilledhisson.“HetoldmehehadforgivenmefortheloveofGod.Tearswerecomingdownmyface.ItmademefeellikeIwantedtolive,whereasbeforeIdidn’tcare.” Theonlyproblemwithastorylikethatisitseemssounbelievable,andyetit’strue.Therearepeoplewhosufferdeeply,physically,becausetheywillnotforgive.Envyrotsthebones.Angerrotsthebones.Unforgivenessrotsthebones.Bitternessrotsthebones.Maybeifyouwonderwhyyou’renotdoingwell,andwhyyoucan’tsleepatnight,andwhyyouhavestomachachesandheadachesandbackaches,andwhyyouaremessedupallthetimeandjustdon’tfeelgood,whydon’tyoulookinthemirrorandwhatyou’llseeisanangryperson.Untilyoudosomethingaboutyourangerandbitterness,you’regoingtobesick,becausetheBiblesaysitwillhappenthatway—itwillliterallyrotyourbones. 3.Dwellonunseenrealities. Thinkaboutthethingsthatyouknowtobetruebutyoucan’tsee.Thingslikeheaven,likeeternity,likeJesusChristandtheHolySpirit.Colossians3:1-3says,“Since,then,youhavebeenraisedwithChrist,setyourheartsonthingsabove,whereChristisseatedattherighthandofGod.Setyourmindsofthingsabove,notonearthlythings.Foryoudied,andyourlifeisnowhiddenwithChristinGod.” 4.Keepthelongviewoflife. ThatisthesecretofProverbs15:15,whichsays,“Thecheerfulhearthasacontinualfeast.”Doesthatmeanyouwillha-ha-hayourwaythroughlife?No!Whatitmeansisthatifyoutakethelongviewoflife,ifyoustandbackandunderstandthatGodisinvolvedineverypartoflife,notjustthegoodpartbutthebad,ifyoulookatthewholething,youtrulycanhaveacontinualfeast. 5.Associatewithcheerfulpeople. Ihavebeenhittingthisinsomeofmysermonslately.Someofusaremessedupbecausewearehangingaroundmessed-uppeople.We’reangrybecausewe’rehangingaroundangrypeople.We’rebitterbecausewe’rehangingaroundbitterpeople.We’remadbecausethepeoplewe’rearoundaremadandcriticalandangryallthetime.Findsomecheerfulpeopletomakeyoucheerful. 6.Bealoadlifter,notaburdenmaker. Galatians6:2says,“Carryeachother’sburdens,andinthiswayyouwillfulfillthelawofChrist.”Don’tbeoneofthosepeoplewhomakeslifeharderforotherpeople;bealoadlifter. 7.Listentogoodmusic. Godgavemusicasameansofliftingsadhearts.Thisweekbeforethesurgery,whenIwasdownanddiscouraged,withsomefearandworryinmyheart,Ihadalittlecassetteplayerinmyoffice.IputacassetteinbytheBillGaitherTrio.TheyhaveaversionofBlessedAssurance,sungbyDannyGaither.ItisthemostbeautifulrenditionofBlessedAssurancethatIhaveeverheard.ThatsongcameonwhenIwasdownanddiscouraged,andjustthosewords,“BlessedAssurance,Jesusismine,ohwhataforetasteofglorydivine”liftedmyheartthisweek.Godgaveusgoodmusicandtoldustosingpsalmsandhymnsandspiritualsongstolifttheheart. 8.Livealifeofactivelove. Iranacrossthissentencethisweek:aselfishmancanneverbecheerful.Hecanbehappy,butnevercheerful.Onlyagivercanbecheerful.Onlyalover,somebodywhoinvestsinthelivesofotherpeople,onlythatkindofpersoncanreallybecheerfulandpositiveaboutlife.Getinvolvedinthelivesofotherpeopleandyouwillhaveacheerfulheart. ItwasFridaymorningandthesurgerywhichwasoriginallytotakeaboutanhourstretchedintothreehours.Thatissoexhausting.Yourmindplaystricksonyou.Youdon’tknow,youworry,youfeartheworst,theunspeakablethingsoflife.Aboutanhourandahalfintothesurgery,GregKirschnercameintoseeme.Greg’swife,Carolyn,wasdoingthesurgery.Gregcamebytosayhello.Wechattedforawhileandhecheeredmeup,toldmeafewstories.Thenhetoldmeasadstoryaboutamaninhispracticethatheisseeingrightnowwhohassomekindofcancer.Heisveryold.Gregwastryingtohelphimdealwiththesituationandsaidtohim,“Don’tyouhaveanychildrenyoucouldtalkto?”“No.”“Awife?”“No.”“Parents?”“No.”“Brothersandsisters?”“No.”“Don’tyouhaveanyfriendsyoucouldtalktoaboutthis?”“No.”“Don’tyougotochurchsomewhere?”“No,Igavethatupyearsago.”“Well,who’sgoingtohelpyouwithwhatyouhavetogothrough?”ThemanlookedatGregandsaid,“Well,Iguessnobody.You’retheonlypersonIhavetotalktoaboutthis.”Gregtoldmethatmanisgoingtodieallalone.Itisahorriblething.LifeishardenoughifyouknowJesus.Howdoesanybodydoitwithouthim?HowdoesanybodyliveevenonedaywithouttheLord?Whatdotheydointhewaitingroomiftheydon’tknowJesus?Wheredoyougo,ifnottotheLord,whenit’syourfamily,whenit’slifeanddeath? ThankGodforJesus.ThankGodheisalive.Hesaid,“Lo,Iamwithyoualways.Iwillneverleaveyou.”IcantestifythatIfelthispresencewithmeonFridaymorning.Eventherehishandwashelpingme.Ifyoudon’tknowJesus,myheartgoesouttoyouandIinviteyou,Iurgeyou,turnawayfromwhateveriskeepingyouaway,andruntoJesus.Somedayyouwillreallyneedhim.Whileyouarehealthy,runtoJesus;you’llneverregretit. Brothersandsisters,ithasbeenahardweek,butJesuscarriedmethrough.HeisawonderfulSavior.Beencouraged,peopleofGod!Beencouraged,liftupyourheadsandrejoice,fortheSonofGodwhohasbroughtusthisfarwillbewithustotheend.Andnomatterwhathappenstousthisweek,theLordJesusChristwillbewithus.Amen. Doyouhaveanythoughtsorquestionsaboutthispost?