CUPS OF JOY & SORROW
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Cups Of Joy And Sorrow
Philippians 4:4
"Rejoice in the Lord always, And again I say, Rejoice!"
a) That text is often quoted and in many cases it is much misunderstood. The text is sometimes used to make people feel guilty who are downhearted, sorrowful, grieving, depressed — as if they need that burden of guilt on top of their other unhappiness! This passage certainly does say we should rejoice always. However it does not say we should rejoice only. This verse does not forbid sorrow. If it did, then it would condemn Jesus, because he was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3).
2. Joy And Sorrow
a) Whilst God gives us many reasons for joy, he does not yet wipe away every tear or take away every pain. That will not happen until we reach heaven "and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death, or mourning, or crying, or pain..." (Revelation 21:4).
b) The knowledge expressed in Revelation 21:4 gives us very mixed feelings when we have sorrows. Those confusing mixed feelings are perfectly proper and normal. Otherwise why would Peter speak of joy "inexpressible", and Paul of groaning "too deep for words"? (1 Peter 1:8, Romans 8:26).
c) Take special note There is an idea that joy and sorrow are mutually exclusive and that if you are feeling sorrow there is something wrong with your joy and it is less than full. On the other hand if your sorrow is somewhat mitigated by your joy, and you "do not grieve like those who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13), people think that there is something wrong with you psychologically or that you are not a genuine person. The reason for such misunderstandings is that people think you only have one cup, and if that cup is full of joy then there is no room for sorrowing, or if that cup is full of sorrow then there is no room for joy.
d) But really you have two cups:
i) One is a cup of joy, and that cup should always be full and overflowing in Christ (see Psalms 23:5, Psalms 116:13, 1 John 1:4) There are many things that can pour into our cup of joy. For example...
@1. Our salvation (Acts 13:47-48).
@2. Others' salvation (Acts 15:3).
@3. The word of God (Acts 15:30-31).
@4. Our love for Christ (1 Peter 1:8).
ii) The other is a cup of sorrow, and from time to time in this life it can be anywhere from empty to overflowing (see Matthew 20:22; Matthew 26:39). There are many things that can pour into our cup of sorrow. To name just a few...
@1. Unrighteousness (1 Corinthians 13:6).
@2. Others' sorrows (Romans 12:15).
@3. Other's damnation (Romans 9:2).
@4. Christ's sorrows (Isaiah 53:3).
@5. Tribulation, persecution (James 1:2-3).
@6. Sickness and other griefs (Philippians 2:25-30).
e) We all hold these two cups while we are in this world.
The End ...
1. Cups Of Joy And Sorrow Philippians 4:4
"Rejoice in the Lord always, And again I say, Rejoice!"
a) That text is often quoted and in many cases it is much misunderstood. The text is sometimes used to make people feel guilty who are downhearted, sorrowful, grieving, depressed — as if they need that burden of guilt on top of their other unhappiness! This passage certainly does say we should rejoice always. However it does not say we should rejoice only. This verse does not forbid sorrow. If it did, then it would condemn Jesus, because he was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3).
2. Joy And Sorrow
a) Whilst God gives us many reasons for joy, he does not yet wipe away every tear or take away every pain. That will not happen until we reach heaven "and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death, or mourning, or crying, or pain..." (Revelation 21:4).
b) The knowledge expressed in Revelation 21:4 gives us very mixed feelings when we have sorrows. Those confusing mixed feelings are perfectly proper and normal. Otherwise why would Peter speak of joy "inexpressible", and Paul of groaning "too deep for words"? (1 Peter 1:8, Romans 8:26).
c) Take special note There is an idea that joy and sorrow are mutually exclusive and that if you are feeling sorrow there is something wrong with your joy and it is less than full. On the other hand if your sorrow is somewhat mitigated by your joy, and you "do not grieve like those who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13), people think that there is something wrong with you psychologically or that you are not a genuine person. The reason for such misunderstandings is that people think you only have one cup, and if that cup is full of joy then there is no room for sorrowing, or if that cup is full of sorrow then there is no room for joy.
d) But really you have two cups:
i) One is a cup of joy, and that cup should always be full and overflowing in Christ (see Psalms 23:5, Psalms 116:13, 1 John 1:4) There are many things that can pour into our cup of joy. For example...
@1. Our salvation (Acts 13:47-48).
@2. Others' salvation (Acts 15:3).
@3. The word of God (Acts 15:30-31).
@4. Our love for Christ (1 Peter 1:8).
ii) The other is a cup of sorrow, and from time to time in this life it can be anywhere from empty to overflowing (see Matthew 20:22; Matthew 26:39). There are many things that can pour into our cup of sorrow. To name just a few...
@1. Unrighteousness (1 Corinthians 13:6).
@2. Others' sorrows (Romans 12:15).
@3. Other's damnation (Romans 9:2).
@4. Christ's sorrows (Isaiah 53:3).
@5. Tribulation, persecution (James 1:2-3).
@6. Sickness and other griefs (Philippians 2:25-30).
e) We all hold these two cups while we are in this world.
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