Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Good and Bad Medicine

What effect has a merry heart? BR-ASI9 389.9

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22. BR-ASI9 389.10

Note.—From this we may learn the influence which the mind has over the body. Cheerfulness is conducive to life and health; sorrow, care, anxiety, and worry tend to disease and death. BR-ASI9 389.11

What effect do helpful, cheerful words have upon the heart? BR-ASI9 389.12

“Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.” Proverbs 12:25. BR-ASI9 389.13

By what temporal blessings does God fill men’s hearts with gladness? BR-ASI9 389.14

“Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, andfruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Acts 14:17. BR-ASI9 389.15

Why and for what may every child of God rejoice? BR-ASI9 389.16

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10. BR-ASI9 389.17

Against what are Christians warned? BR-ASI9 390.1

“Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” 1 Corinthians 10:10. BR-ASI9 390.2

Note.—“There are those who take to gloom as a bat to darkness or as a vulture to carrion. They would rather nurse a misery than cherish a joy. They always find the dark side of everything, if there is a dark side to be found. They appear to be conscientious grumblers, as if it were their duty to extract some essence of misery from every circumstance. . . . On the other hand, there are rare spirits who always take cheerful views of life. They look at the bright side. They find some joy and beauty everywhere. . . . In the most faulty picture they see some bit of beauty which charms them. In the most disagreeable person they discover some kindly trait or some bud of promise. In the most disheartening circumstances they find something for which to be thankful, some gleam of cheer breaking in through the thick gloom.”—J. R. Miller, Week-Day Religion, pp. 234-236. BR-ASI9 390.3