Joy in Partial-Filled Grain Bins

Psalm 4:1-8

Verse 7  Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.

    We mentioned the other day that joy isn’t about our circumstances and this psalm of David shows that joy isn’t about what we have or don’t have.  It is about Who we have.  This was the same reason people in Jesus’ day had a hard time accepting that He was the Messiah.  They were looking at what they would be gaining, or at least what they thought they should be gaining, not on who He was.

    The desire for more is pretty common in society and sadly that has overflowed into the Church.  There are even movements that are trying to make it appear that God will show who His favorites are by how much physical wealth they have.  Of course, that isn’t God’s way of thinking and shows greed that comes from loving the things of this world more than we love God.  Constantly reaching for the things of this world will not bring us the joy we truly crave.

    The people David was talking about were not different than those around us today.  They were looking at people in the world around them and seeing them prosper.  The problem they were having was that they didn’t see their own harvest as being as abundant as their neighbors.  David’s prayer wasn’t for God to increase their harvest.  The fact that he wasn’t asking God to provide for them shows that it wasn’t about not having what they needed, it was about not having as much as others.

    David’s prayer is asking for joy while seeing others gain abundance.  In other words he was asking God to help him find great contentment in what he had instead of losing focus because of what he didn’t have.  This is a gift of joy that we don’t often think about but is one that has marked many followers of Christ through the generations.  Whether we are speaking of Paul who talked about contentment because God would give him strength (Philippians 4:12-13) or the more recent believers who could still find joy in the Lord during the Great Depression, we can see that joy isn’t about our circumstance, but rather about the Lord who provides for our every need.

    During this season it is good for us to remember that He is the reason for our joy.  The trappings of this world are just that, traps.  They draw our time, attention, energy and resources away from the Lord.  When He is the object of our affection, we will know the height of joy.

Making It Personal

    How easy is it for you to get caught up in the things of this world?  What things most easily draw your attention from the Lord?  Have you experienced the joy of contentment?

Making It Personal Kids

    Is it easy to focus on Jesus when you see your friend getting all the things they want and you aren’t?  What is more important, Jesus or the things you want?  What about Jesus brings you joy?

Closing Prayer

    Father, thank You for always providing for all our needs.  Help us not be focused on our wants or what others have and instead look to You to fulfill us.  In Jesus’ name, amen.