A Healthy Body and a Joyful Heart at Work
In the past, we've discussed the importance of taking care of our bodies, particularly as it applies to our work. Knowing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we naturally understand that good eating habits and exercise support and bolster that temple. A healthy body helps us in our endeavor to do our best work each day for the greater glory of God. It's that simple.
But it's also important that we have a joyful heart at work. That may not seem like such an obvious "requirement" as a healthy body. But think about it. Can you see that working in a joyful spirit produces better work? When you're sad, or if you're resentful about having to do some distasteful task, or you're just plain bored, your work suffers, doesn't it?
So today, we'll reference some Bible verses that show us why a joyful heart fits so well with a healthy body. You'll find these in Ecclesiasticus Chapter 30. As we consider the wisdom in these Biblical verses, I think you'll see that not only a healthy body, but also a joyful heart will support you throughout the work day.
Before we get to joy, let's first recognize that most of us work for money. While we may find other benefits and satisfaction in our work, money typically plays a key, if not the key role in our decision to work for a particular employer, practice a particular profession, or pursue owning your own business. But Ecclesiasticus teaches us that money can't hold a candle to health of body, nor can it in any way stand in for real joy.
"There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart..."
After acknowledging the importance of health compared to material riches, Ecclesiasticus immediately recognizes the importance of a joyful heart:
"Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself to thy own counsel. The joyfulness of the heart is the life of a man, and a never failing treasure of holiness; and the joy of a man is length of life....gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from thee. For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it."
Note especially: "joyfulness of the heart is the life of a man." Joy isn't just something nice to have; it's the life. It's essential. Even more, joy advances our spiritual life. It is, in fact, "a never failing treasure of holiness." The converse of this: the lack of health and joy can lead to death - physical and spiritual. Even worse if we're angry or envious:
"Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will bring old age before the time. A cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets are prepared with diligence."
While envy has never really stuck its nose into my work life, anger has occasionally made a sortie. Why not envy? I don't know. It just hasn't. I've never really looked at others who might be doing better than I at work with envy. I don't begrudge people their success. Anger's different. There were times in the past when annoyance has morphed into anger. Typically it's been over some injustice that I perceived was perpetrated against me (rare, but it's happened). If anything, anxiety or boredom have been the bigger problem on some jobs.
Setting that aside, I suspect none of us would argue that "a cheerful and good heart is always feasting." So maybe today we can take this thought with us as we tackle our current work load. While not always a natural disposition for some of us (present company included), it really is something that can be cultivated. My favorite method is to start with gratitude. Thank God for all that He's given you, including your current job.
If it pays the bills and there's a little left over for saving, investment, and maybe some fun things you enjoy doing, what's to complain about, right? If you think you can do better, go for it. Maybe you get another job that's more satisfying...whatever.
But whatever your current situation, your particular circumstances, you can't go wrong with working with a joyful heart. Makes a lot of sense to me.
But it's also important that we have a joyful heart at work. That may not seem like such an obvious "requirement" as a healthy body. But think about it. Can you see that working in a joyful spirit produces better work? When you're sad, or if you're resentful about having to do some distasteful task, or you're just plain bored, your work suffers, doesn't it?
So today, we'll reference some Bible verses that show us why a joyful heart fits so well with a healthy body. You'll find these in Ecclesiasticus Chapter 30. As we consider the wisdom in these Biblical verses, I think you'll see that not only a healthy body, but also a joyful heart will support you throughout the work day.
Before we get to joy, let's first recognize that most of us work for money. While we may find other benefits and satisfaction in our work, money typically plays a key, if not the key role in our decision to work for a particular employer, practice a particular profession, or pursue owning your own business. But Ecclesiasticus teaches us that money can't hold a candle to health of body, nor can it in any way stand in for real joy.
"There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart..."
After acknowledging the importance of health compared to material riches, Ecclesiasticus immediately recognizes the importance of a joyful heart:
"Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself to thy own counsel. The joyfulness of the heart is the life of a man, and a never failing treasure of holiness; and the joy of a man is length of life....gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from thee. For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it."
Note especially: "joyfulness of the heart is the life of a man." Joy isn't just something nice to have; it's the life. It's essential. Even more, joy advances our spiritual life. It is, in fact, "a never failing treasure of holiness." The converse of this: the lack of health and joy can lead to death - physical and spiritual. Even worse if we're angry or envious:
"Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will bring old age before the time. A cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets are prepared with diligence."
While envy has never really stuck its nose into my work life, anger has occasionally made a sortie. Why not envy? I don't know. It just hasn't. I've never really looked at others who might be doing better than I at work with envy. I don't begrudge people their success. Anger's different. There were times in the past when annoyance has morphed into anger. Typically it's been over some injustice that I perceived was perpetrated against me (rare, but it's happened). If anything, anxiety or boredom have been the bigger problem on some jobs.
Setting that aside, I suspect none of us would argue that "a cheerful and good heart is always feasting." So maybe today we can take this thought with us as we tackle our current work load. While not always a natural disposition for some of us (present company included), it really is something that can be cultivated. My favorite method is to start with gratitude. Thank God for all that He's given you, including your current job.
If it pays the bills and there's a little left over for saving, investment, and maybe some fun things you enjoy doing, what's to complain about, right? If you think you can do better, go for it. Maybe you get another job that's more satisfying...whatever.
But whatever your current situation, your particular circumstances, you can't go wrong with working with a joyful heart. Makes a lot of sense to me.
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