With Cheerfulness

In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul writes that “the one who does acts of mercy” should do them “with cheerfulness.” There are a lot of other words he could have used in that sentence after the “with”. There are other instructions he could have given to those who seek to give practical help to others. He could have told us to do acts of mercy with diligence or perseverance, with wisdom or self-sacrifice and all of these words would make sense, but Paul doesn’t use them. He tells us to serve “with cheerfulness.”

Really, Paul? Cheerfulness?

Really.

There’s an idea out there that good works hardly even count if you enjoy them. That the enjoyment tarnishes the purity of the deed by bringing an immediate personal benefit to the one who does it. This idea is expressed succinctly in a letter written by one of the great mercy-showers of Cork city, Nano Nagle. Nano gave her life to sacrificially provide education for the children of her community in the 1700’s, but she wrote to her friend that, “I often think my schools will never bring me to heaven, as I only take delight and pleasure in them.”

I’d love to get Nano and Paul in a room together and hear them chat about this. My guess is that Paul would respond by telling Nano that no one has good deeds perfect enough to bring them to heaven (Paul had tried that path himself), but that Jesus has already delighted to graciously provide a place in heaven to those who trust in him—not on the basis of their good, but his (Paul explains this in Romans 3:21-24). But I think he would go further. I think he would tell Nano that she was on the right track in enjoying her work for others. God also delights to show mercy to his people (Micah 7:18). Delight and pleasure are exactly what mercy-showing people ought to feel. Jesus even endured the cross “for the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2)—the joy of the salvation he was bringing to his people. When we delight in serving others, we are not tarnishing our service by our enjoyment of it—no!—we are making it shine all the brighter as a reflection of the greater delight of our Maker and Saviour. Delight and pleasure do not detract from our service, they complete it.

Would you rather be helped by someone who is only doing their dour duty, or by someone who genuinely enjoys it? Obviously, the one who enjoys it. That’s because finding joy in giving to others is an expression of love. When someone serves you cheerfully, their delight demonstrates that they value you and care about your good. The same is true in your service for others. In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul writes that “God loves a cheerful giver.” When we give and serve cheerfully, we give and serve like God does. From our heart. From our delight. From our love. So when you do your acts of mercy and good today, don’t forget to enjoy them.