Owner Beware!

With all the Biblical research I’ve been doing, the blog posts I’ve written, the many teaching sessions I’ve given over the years, and the practical personal experiences I’ve had as a purveyor of CHEERFULNESS… I suddenly had the thought:

“Is there a downside to CHEERFULNESS?”

And to be perfectly honest… it didn’t take me much time to come up with a clear and distinct answer:

“YES!”

But… it is not what you might think!  The downside is not caused from any potential personal side-effects of a CHEERFUL heart and/or disposition, but from the potential negative responses that one might get from individuals on the receiving end of our CHEERULNESS… especially in the midst of difficult and trying situations.

One thing that I have learned throughout my life, is that an attitude of CHEERFULNESS tends to carry a certain SCENT along with it.  It is a FRAGRANCE that seeps into the life of the individual who has surrendered to its calling… in all that they think, do and say.  As a Christian, it is a FRAGRANCE that flows from the inside out. 

I’ve often said that my late wife Piper’s beautiful looks and engaging personality, along with her charming, peaceful and encouraging demeanor, was simply a reflection of what was inside of her.  And yes, while I believe that she had some inherent natural gifting in that area, it was greatly enhanced through a life time of diligent study and practice of the principles and promises in the Word of God, which served to enrich and magnify those qualities… and delightfully age the sweet FRAGRANCE that emanated from her.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 in the Moffatt translations tells us that,

“Wherever I go, thank God, He makes my life a constant pageant of triumph in Christ, diffusing the PERFUME of His knowledge everywhere by me.  I live for God as the FRAGRANCE of Christ breathed alike on those who are being saved and on those who are perishing, to the one a deadly FRAGRANCE that makes for death, to the other a vital FRAGRANCE that makes for life.”

To most individuals the FRAGRANCE of CHEERFULNESS is a sweet aroma that tends to draw people to its source.  But there are some to whom the FRAGRANCE of CHEERULNESS is received as a repulsive stench and an affront to them.  In my experience in both the secular and sacred worlds, this is the normal response of people who are dealing with some aspects of fear in their lives.

In many cases, it is a response that is not only manifested in disagreement with the CHEERFUL one, but also in words and actions that attack the CHEER-giver’s personal character.  I saw that exemplified in my own life experiences in the past, as well as in the present when I looked at the headline news this morning.  As I scrolled down the first page, I noticed at least a half a dozen headlines where individuals in the new political party in power in the House of Representatives, were not only criticized for their rightwing political beliefs, but were done so with vivid personal character assassination.

So yes!   There are times when those of us who CHOOSE to live with a CHEERFUL heart, that stems from our overriding trust in the truth of God, in the power of His Word and in the moral excellence of His ways, may be rebuked by those who are personally challenged by our JOY-FILLED, CALM and hard-to-resist CHEERFUL personalities… that are especially highlighted in the midst of trying times.

People in fear want us CHEERFUL folks to take the counsel of their fear and be adversely affected by it!  But don’t be moved by their negative and sometimes stinging words or actions.  Remember that you have chosen to be CHEERFUL over the long haul!  The Biblical book of Philippians is chocked full of verses where the Apostle Paul commemorated the church there for the way they stood,

“shoulder to shoulder for the faith of the Glad-tidings” and of how happy he was to know “that you are not cowed one whit by your adversaries.”*

And Sooo… (As one of Piper’s and my Sociology Professors in Junior College would always say as he droned on and rocked back and forth on his lectern):

“Owner Beware!”

Although most will… Not everyone will respond to your CHEERFULNESS in a positive manner.  And if they do so… stay CALM, stay POSITIVE and keep a gentle SMILE on your face.  Remember that you’re CHEERFUL because you are trusting in the Lord to intercede on your behalf for whatever stand of faith you are holding and expressing positive and trusting CHEERFULNESS for!!  The fear you’re facing will either run away or yield to the over-powering FRAGRANCE of Godly CHEERFULNESS that is wafting through the air from you!

Have a terrific rest of your week!  We got a deluge of heavy rain, complete with thunder and lightning this morning and then by noon it was sunny and 60 degrees (albeit with a cold wind though…)!  Keep EXPECTING God’s BEST and let His sweet FRAGRANCE of CHEERFULNESS flow freely from you!

 

*Philippians 1:27-28 – “The Letters of St. Paul to Seven Churches and three Friends with the Letter to the Hebrews”