Is any Merry? by M. J. C.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 17, 1870

Is any Merry?

By M. J. C.

“Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” Here, my light-hearted young friend, is divine instruction for you. You are often led by a flow of exuberant spirits to indulge in jesting and witticisms. Idle words spring to your lips, and you, forgetting to “keep the heart with all diligence,” and to “set a watch before the door of your lips,” give them utterance, and by so doing, grieve away from your presence the Spirit of Christ which is seeking an abiding place in your heart.

Sometimes your lips are suffered to breathe forth a gay and senseless song. Do you realize that in these things you dishonor the name of Christian? You plead a natural disposition; and a natural disposition I know is hard to overcome; but steady, persevering effort on your part, the Lord will accept, and by his grace assist you, until the work is complete, and you are rendered more capable of giving to him acceptable service.

He has given us all the necessary instruction in the precious Bible for perfecting a Christian character. In that divine guide-book is instruction for every condition and circumstance in life; and there I find the words: “Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” It will be perfectly safe to act upon this instruction. We many times say that if we knew what to do, we would do it. Well, here is heavenly instruction what to do when merry-hearted; not to laugh and indulge in vain talk, trying to see who can say the smartest things, but to sing some sweet hymn of praise to our glorious Lord, and loving Saviour.

Let us try acting upon this instruction. If we are preparing for an introduction to Heaven, our minds must take an exalted habit of thought. Will exalted thoughts lead us to speak vain and idle words?

M. J. C.

Monroe Co., N. Y.