Lesson 370: "Joy Slayer"
A joy slayer is anyone or anything that takes away your joy in Jesus Christ. Sounds simple, right? Did you know that one of the greatest joy slayers in your life is you? Bad moods! Pity parties! Envy! Back-biting! Or just doing nothing at all; good or bad! “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been dong among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth” (Col. 1:6). Is everyone bearing fruit? Is everyone trying? “What has happened to all your joy” (Gal. 4:15)?
King Saul chose jealously over God’s will and his joy of being king was slain (1 Samuel 18:6, 8). Solomon was wise and rich beyond compare. He saved a baby’s life through wisdom and built the spectacular temple that David was denied. Solomon chose other gods and the one true God stripped him of his kingdom and his joy (1 Kings 1:40, 11:31-33). The house of Obed-Edom was filled with blessings because the Ark stayed there 3 months (1 Chro. 13:13-14). The joy of having the Ark should have been David’s but because of his neglect in not following God’s specific instructions (Num. 4:1-20) in carrying the Ark, the blessings turned into fright and anger toward God. David and all of Israel were celebrating with singing, playing lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets when suddenly Uzzah “touched the untouchable” and the joy was slain (1 Chro. 13:9-10). That old adage; “haste makes waste” sure applied here.
Jesus said that the seed is like a person who hears the teaching of Christ and accepts it with joy. If this seed is not cultivated, trouble can and will kill the joy (Matt. 13:20-21). The greatest joy slayer of all time is Satan/the thief who has come to steal (your joy), kill (your desire to follow Jesus) and destroy (your faith in the one who gives the joy of spiritual life (John 10:10). Paul feared the sin of the church and stated; “I am afraid that when I come to you again, my God will make me ashamed before you” (2 Cor. 12:20-21). Paul had heard of several joy slayers in the church; arguing, jealousy, anger, selfish fighting, evil talk, gossip, pride and confusion. The joy had gone out of his friends’ hearts and Paul was saddened.
We cannot give what we do not have! We cannot share the joy of Jesus Christ if we do not hold this joy in our hearts! We cannot do until we are! Don’t let this week pass without finding a way of telling someone else about the good news of God’s love and make your joy complete. Jesus said; “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I HAVE TOLD YOU THIS SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOUR AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE COMPLETE” (John 15:10-11)!