Day 306: When little is more - Proverbs 15 vs 13 – 17

13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but a sorrowful heart crushes the spirit. 14 The heart of a discerning person seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity. 15 All the days of an oppressed person are evil, but a cheerful heart enjoys a continuous celebration. 16-17 Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred. Proverbs 15 vs 13 - 17 Evangelical Heritage Version

Have you noticed how some people with far less in life have more more joy and happier homes than many people who appear to have everything? Three times in vs 13-14 the writer speaks of how the heart of a person can affect our outlook on life. A man named Eugene Peterson did a paraphrased version of the Bible (called 'The Message') and this is how he put the verses we're looking at today:

“A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies. A miserable heart means a miserable life;  a cheerful heart fills the day with song. A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches. Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate.”

What are the two things in vs 16-17 that enriched the lives of those who had far less than others?

Though they had little of the world's treasures, they had the treasure of God fearing hearts. Their homes were places where God's love was present at mealtimes – even if the meals were simple. The apostle Paul spoke of something similar when he wrote to his friend Timothy to warn him of people who were using religion for get rich schemes. He said: “There are people with corrupt minds who think that godliness is a source of profit – keep away from them!” But then he added: “Godliness is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment - for we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.” 1 Timothy 6:5-7.

So what sort of heart is it that can joyfully be contented with less, and also endure times when life brings spirit crushing storms? (vs 14)

It’s a heart that has learned to be discerning. (As Peterson said – it’s foolish people who rush after 'fast-food fads and fancies'.) A wise person realizes that it’s not wealth (or even heath) that brings true joy, but it is a heart that is at peace with God. A right fear of God and the love He brings into our lives through Jesus Christ is what leads to a cheerful face.

And a discerning heart will seek knowledge. Again, as Peterson put it, such a person is always eager to take in more truth. While foolish people feed on fast-food fads and fancies – the discerning heart feeds more and more on God's word. In Psalm 4 David the King wrote: “Many are saying, 'Who will show us some good?'” People are often asking where they can find happiness. Then David added: “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” David had discovered the joy of when little is more – when it is accompanied with God's peace.

This was why the first followers of Jesus Christ were able to endure the hard times they went through. In Hebrews 10:32-34 the writer says:“ Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ.  Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.  Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.”