Rejoice And Weep
Both rejoicing and weeping have a place in the life of the Christian. Neither should be magnified out of proportion. Some have made the mistake of indulging and emphasizing one to the exclusion of the other.
Through rejoicing and weeping we can express our most cordial sympathy. We are taught to "rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep." (Rom. 12:15) "And whether one member suffereth all the members suffer with it, or one member is honored all the members rejoice with it." (I Cor. 12:16)
No Christian can claim any maturity as a Christian who can withhold sorrowful sympathy from a suffering brother. Any rejoicing, occasioned by a brother's misfortune, is of the devil Gloating over a brother's misfortune is too hideous to be tolerated.
It is just as important for us to learn that we are to rejoice with those who rejoice. Failure to rejoice at the good fortune of a brother is evidence of dwarfed Christian growth. Ponder this: how many cases have come to your attention where this hearty sympathy was present? How many times have you expressed joy to a brother because of some honor or promotion he received? Such ties of sympathy can never exist as long as "each looks to his own things." It is one of the characteristics of love that love "seeketh not its own."
There are many things that can and should be occasions of joy to the Christian. He should rejoice when a sinner is saved and when an erring child is recovered from sin, for these things are such as to excite rejoicing in the angels in heaven. The Christian is to rejoice that his name is written in heaven (Luke 10:20), and "in the hope of the glory of God." (Rom. 5:2) It will be profitable to extend your study of the things which the Bible presents as legitimate occasions of rejoicing.
That sorrow has its proper place in religion is generally conceded. There are many however who accord it a place entirely too prominent. A Christian is not a sorrow addict whose jaded emotions require regular and increasing doses of emotional stimulations to keep his interest going. Artificial and mechanical means are not to be resorted to by the preacher, and such should not be required of the preacher by the hearer. Yet there are many who judge the quality of a sermon by the volume of tears provoked. A fine lesson in sermonizing could be gained by noting the scarcity of adjectives used in the New Testament.
Paul points out that excessive sorrow is undesirable, "lest by any means such an one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow." (II Cor. 2:7) Care should be exercised not to excite excessive sorrow lest it lead to despair.
Hopeless sorrow is not to be entertained by the child of God. "That ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope." Hopeless sorrow is the lot of those who, being out of Christ, have no basis or ground for any hope.
The sorrow of the world is unproductive of any good. It produces death. (II Cor. 7:10) This sort of sorrow never grows beyond vain regret—regret of exposure. Paul speaks of this sort of sorrow in contrast to the godly sort. Godly sorrow worked earnest care — clearing of self — indignation — fear — longing — zeal —avenging. The sorrow of the world works none of this care in making things right; it has no indignation against sin nor fear of its contamination, no longing for righteousness, nor zeal in the pursuit of it. The sorrow of the world is mere frustration.
Vain sorrow has no merit. The sorrow of the rich young ruler was vain. He went away sorrowfully — but he went. When one goes away from Christ, all is lost; it makes no difference whether he goes away laughing or crying.
What sorrow is approved? Paul rejoiced that the sorrow he had provoked by his epistle to the church at Corinth had worked repentance. He took no delight in the mere fact of causing sorrow; but he was delighted by the results of the sorrow he had caused. Destructive work is mere wantonness if not designed to produce good. The Pentecostians were pricked in their hearts. Their sorrow prompted a desire to clear themselves. They cried out, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
A good index to one's character is the thing that occasions him joy or sorrow. Our mourning is blessed only if that mourning is of the right character. Our rejoicing must be with the truth, never in unrighteousness.