Jump Start # 430 

Proverbs 15:15 “All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

  Our verse today shows one of the many contrasts that are found in Proverbs. There are actually two contrasts here. First, the afflicted vs. the cheerful heart. Secondly, a contrast is found in the outcome: bad vs. continual feast.

  The afflicted. His days are not good. All his days are bad. We are not given specifics. Afflicted internally with problems of health, mind and soul or afflicted externally by being oppressed by others. Either way, it’s hard to get out of bed when you are afflicted. When a person doesn’t feel well, they don’t feel well anywhere. A change of location doesn’t change the condition of their health.

  The cheerful heart is just the opposite of the afflicted. Things are going well for the cheerful. Cheerfulness is a choice. Some folks can be free from afflictions, but they still remain sour and miserable. I guess that’s just the way they want to live. Cheerfulness is expressed in singing happy songs. Folks don’t whistle much anymore, maybe because they are not so cheerful, but I’ve known a few whistlers. Use I was one, just can’t seem to do it. It’s more than puckering the lips and blowing. Not many people whistle when they are afflicted. Whistling is a sign of cheerfulness. Singing is the same way. The cheerful are upbeat, ready to get at things, positive. It is in this way that their life is a continual feast. The image of feasting is more than food, it’s the company, it’s the festive atmosphere, it’s friends and family, it’s fun. It’s that spirit that comes with cheerfulness.

  It seems that this contrast is based not upon circumstances but the choices and the responses to those circumstances. A person can’t help that they are going through hard times. Bills stack up, things need to be fixed and there just isn’t any money. Not typically a whistling moment in life.

  James mentions a very similar contrast. He writes, “Is  anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.” There is the contrast. Suffering and cheerfulness. But as James shows us, either way, a person remains connected to God. When he is afflicted or suffering, turn to God and pray. When he is cheerful, thank the Lord and sing praises to God.

  We’d like everyday to be cheerful. They can’t be. Neither should our lives be defined by sadness and affliction. The emotions of a human, or our moods, are affected by many things. How we feel affects them. The weather affects our moods. How we are treated affects our moods. But it seems that we need to have some control in all of this. Those that don’t seem to be “moody.” If you catch them at the wrong time, in the wrong mood, look out. It’s hard to know. This makes people walk on egg shells. Things happen to us and we can’t control some of those things. A friend of mine who has since passed away, wrote in one of her many books, “Pain is inevitable, misery is optional.” I think she caught the thoughts of this Proverb. Cheerfulness is a state of the mind. We can do much to improve it by what we do. Our connection to God has a lot to do with that. What we watch and listen to has a lot to do with that. Even the people we hang around with have an impact upon us. Give me positive people who are full of energy and excitement. Bright colors, sunshine, good thoughts, God, good people these all fill our lives and can be resources for cheerfulness.

  Misery is optional—I think I’ll pass on that option. How about you? Make the most of this day by making the best choices and putting your life into the hands of God.

Roger