The Word “Enthusiasm” comes from two Greek words; “en,” the preposition meaning in or with, and “theos,” the noun meaning God. Enthusiastic living is living with or in God. Sometimes, it’s expressed by saying, “God in or with You.” The source of enthusiasm is God’s presence in your life. Often in the Bible the phrase Christians are referred to as being “in Christ.” Several times, it says of Christians that “Christ is in you.” Thus, the Bible expects believers to live “enthusiastic” lifestyles as part of their testimonies to a cold, dark world. Of course, there are all kinds of “enthusiasm” as we understand the word today. It’s used to describe any kind of excitement or interest in anything. We can be “enthused” over just about anything. But, that’s not what the word originally meant. It referred to a passion and excitement for life even when things go wrong. Having God with you, or the Spirit in you, meant that you were able to live above all life’s sorrows and circumstances.
Joseph in the Old Testament is an excellent example of a man who lived an “enthusiastic” life even amidst the many trials and injustices he suffered. In Chapter 39 of Genesis, after Joseph had been sold by his own brothers (talk about a dysfunctional family), and after Potiphar’s wife had lied about him, which resulted in his incarceration on the “Green Mile,” He continues to actively serve others regardless of where he is; a slave? He’s the best slave! A prisoner? He’s the best prisoner! Four times in this chapter, it says that “God was with Joseph.” He knew it, but more importantly, everyone around him knew it. Even at the end of the chapter, when he’s thrown into prison, the very last verse, verse 23 of Chapter 39, says, “The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him, and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” When he kept books, he was the best bookkeeper. When he counted crops, he was the best crop counter! Everything he did prospered because God was with him. Isn’t it strange that the bible can say that God made Joseph prosper in everything he did when he was sold by his brothers, lied about by a seductress, and imprisoned on false charges? Joseph remained enthusiastic in all of his circumstances.
When Joseph was in prison, Pharaoh’s butler and baker were thrown into the prison with him. One day after they had dreams, They were downcast! They had no “enthusiasm.” In Chapter 40 of Genesis, Joseph asks them, “Why are you so sad?” He wanted to know why they had no enthusiasm. After all that had happened to Joseph, he wasn’t focusing on all his sufferings but looking out for the needs of others. He was singing a happy song, so to speak. I think of Paul and Silas in Philippi when they were beaten and thrown in prison. After midnight, Paul and Silas were “singing” songs. It doesn’t say which ones, but it says that all the prisoners were listening to them, and the conclusion is that many trust in the God who is “with” (or in) Paul and Silas. I’m sure they weren’t singing, “Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen! Nobody knows my sorrow!” Neither were they singing, “I see the train a-comin’ it rollin’ round the bend, and I ain’t seen the sunshine since, I don’t know when… I’m stuck in Folsom Prison, and time keeps dragging by… when I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry.” No! Those are not the songs that Joseph, Paul, and Silas were singing! God was with and in them! They sang a happy song.