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Sometimes we ask a college student, "What's your major?" It is the wise and happy student (and
anyone else) who will answer "Morality!" This not only is a source of joy for the moral person,
but for those who hear of that one's morality. Read what Paul's joy was for the Roman Christians,
"For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would
have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil" (Romans 16:19).
Directly put, the joy of moral living can be found in this text written by Paul to Timothy,
"but refuse profane and old wives' fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness: for bodily
exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise
of the life which now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:7-8). There is joy in
doing what is right. Jesus said, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). This is our duty as He would teach further in His
great sermon: "But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness. . ." (Matthew 6:33
ASV).
There is joy in having a clean conscience. This begins with obedience. Peter wrote, "...which also after a true likeness doth now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21 ASV). This good conscience is maintained through exercise: "Herein I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always" (Acts 24:16 ASV). Some lose their clean conscience through sin (Ephesians 4:19; 1 Timothy 4:2) and the result is seen here: "To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled" (Titus 1:15 ASV). There is joy in having a good reputation. Hear the wise man: "A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [And] loving favor rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1). We can read of several good men in the New Testament who enjoyed a good name and reputation (Cornelius, Barnabas, Timothy). There is joy in being consistent. We cannot teach virtue and yet practice vice. This is hypocrisy. God hates hypocrisy (Romans 2:1-3; Matthew 23). Let us have the attitude of Ezra of whom it was written, "For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinance" (Ezra 7:10 ASV). There is joy in setting a good example. I am weary of our school systems trying to make heroes of those who have failed in life by bringing them before the student body and having them tell their "life story" as though this will keep the young from following this same example. I heard all this when I was a student (quite a few years ago) and my kids still hear such nonsense. Yet more and more young people are falling into the same old sins of this world. Our young need to be encouraged, rather, never to fall into these things. Their heroes ought to be young men and women who have made something of their lives who have not first fallen for the devil's tricks! Where are the Timothy's? Let our young (and old) learn "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12 ASV). The joys of moral living should dismiss the thought of sin (2 Corinthians 10:5), and not allow the thought of sin as being "worth" anything (Hebrews 11:25). Hell ought to scare us (Mark 9:43-44) to the point where we will not be fooled by sin (Hebrews 3:13). Hear the Word of the Lord: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). Always remember, "For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:7). |