Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Our florists make up packages of seeds labelled "Gorgeous purple," "Exceedingly beautiful," "Remarkably fine," and so on, referring to the flowers. Now let these seeds go into the lands of a clumsy person who has perhaps raised corn and potatoes, but who has never raised flowers; and let him plant them in cold, wet, barren soil, and at an untimely season. A few of them will sprout, and will come slowly up, pale and spindling, and will be neglected, and the weeds will overrun them: and when the time for blossoming comes there will be found here and there a scrawny plant, with one or two stingy blossoms, and men will say. "Now we see the outcome of this pretence. Look at the labels. It is all humbug." But do you not perceive that the way in which you plant the seed, and the preparation of the soil, and the season have much to do with the successful growth? It is true that beautiful plants might have been produced. They were deserving of all the praise bestowed upon them. There was no deception. They might have been what they were represented, but they are not for want of knowledge, skill, and adaptation of conditions to ends. There may be persons who suppose because Christianity is joy producing that when they become Christians they will be joyful. They suppose that they are to take it as they would nitrous oxide gas, a magnificent Divine intoxicant, and are miserably disappointed when ecstatic effects do not take place. And the reason why there is not more joy in the Church is because you do not know how to plant the seeds and cultivate the flowers. They are real seeds, and the flowers are beautiful, and the plant bears blessed fruit to those who know how to give it proper culture. If you have the faith of Christ and heaven and God near to you; if you so love that all parts of your being are pervaded with a sense of these things; if the affluence of God reaches down to you and you open your soul to let in the consciousness of Christ, you will have joy. "Oh" says one, "I might be joyful if I were not so harassed with care." "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." There is provision made in Christ for care. "But I have such grief!" "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous" etc. If the earth had sensibility when the spade opened it, it would cry, "Oh! why art thou wounding me?" But in that open earth I drop seed, and cover up again, and by and by the ground is covered with beautiful flowers — does the earth mourn now? God is opening the furrow in you and putting in seeds. It is affliction to you now, but afterward it will produce in you the peaceable fruit of righteousness. (H. W. Beecher.) Parallel Verses KJV: Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. |
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