Being a Joy to Others; Not a Kill-joy

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Am I a KJ?

Kill-joy: it used to be a popular term describing a person who is no fun at all. Why? Because he kills joy – he pours cold water on the excitement and enthusiasm other people have for certain causes or activities. He kills joy because he is always grumpy and complaining about things and people. He kills joy because he is not happy with others nor is he happy for others.

But there is a different kind of KJ… Christians who are self-righteous and judgemental. They have a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude. Paul was not a KJ. It is in this context that Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:19

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

It seems that he’s saying he wanted to be a conformist – to be like the people he met. To be popular with them, not to be a kill-joy. But take note, there is a very important motivation for his doing so. I have become all things to all people SO THAT by all possible means I might SAVE some. I do all this for the Sake of the GOSPEL.

Caveat: Even as I do not judge others for their actions or wrongs. I should stand firm on what I believe to be the right way of being and doing. I do not conform to the bad habits and behaviour of the people I want to bring to Christ.

God hates sin but loves the sinners. I need to do the same. Paul wrote about being all things to all men as his way of ‘friendship’ evangelism. He wanted to be their friend – to be weak when they are weak, to be a Jew like they are, to be emphatic – to be able to relate to them – to be in their shoes.

Let me illustrate with an example. Hubby used to say that people would not invite him to go clubbing or drinking with them in bars or girlie clubs because they know the kind of person he is. But that is not to say that he told them outright that what they are doing is not good.

As for me, I want to be an authentic person to my friends. I do not want to be a KJ. Neither do I want to be a hypocrite. I cannot go against what I believe to be right just to please people. On the other hand, I am not afraid to let them know that I have my weaknesses and shortcomings either. What you see is what you get. Neither judging nor conforming.

Somehow somewhere someday, the Holy Spirit will be the one to convict and open the hearts of the people I want to lead to Christ because I do all this for the sake of the gospel.You can do it too, my friend. Not be a KJ but a BJ – a blessed joy to others.

Let the Beauty of Jesus be seen in me! So help me, God. Amen.

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