Is it just me or do you also find yourself saying, “Well, at least I have….”? It could be, “At least, I have my family,” or “At least, I have my health,” or “At least, I have roof over my head…” Usually, we say this to console ourselves when things are going bad or to brace ourselves for something that might disappoint us in the near future.

I found myself saying this morning, “At least I have my family and my health…” Then I caught myself. That means the bottom line for me is my family and my health. I’m saying to myself, “Even if everything goes wrong, even if everyone shuns me, as long as I have my family and health, I’m OK.” What a paganistic way of thinking! I’m basing my security on a sinking ship, for I know I will lose my family (or they will lose me) and my health one day. It’s just a matter of time!

What is my bottom line then? Isn’t it Jesus Christ? So, shouldn’t I be rejoicing in the Lord, alone? That “alone” part is critical. We rejoice in the Lord alright when it is the Lord AND our health. The Lord AND our family. The Lord AND our money. The Lord AND our children. But what if it is the Lord only?

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t rejoice over other things than the Lord. We should. We should be thankful. But they should never be the source of our rejoicing. When we rejoice over our children, for example, we should always link it back to Christ who is the ultimate source of our joy.

“Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS; again, I will say, Rejoice!” Phil 4:4

PH