SEEDS AND HARVESTS OF JOY

In the morning sow your SEED, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good – Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NKJV)

There are no supermarkets where packets of joy are sold. JOY-SEEDS must be nurtured just like gardens. The question is: What are joy-seeds and how do we come about them? Actually, there are some seeds already planted within us that can produce harvests of Joy. Let’s consider five such seeds that come to mind.

• BE YOURSELF seed: accept yourself just as you are, rather than trying to meet other’s expectations. It’s liberating when you can finally be comfortable in your own skin.

• DO YOUR BEST seed: apply heart-felt effort, trusting the outcome to the glory of God. Beware of the comparison trap. Sometimes, “doing your best” could lead to “being the best,” which is good; but God is more concerned in your genuine effort than in attaining a position or rank among others.

• DON’T COMPARE seed. Comparisons can be dangerous. They fuel unhealthy competition, ego trips, and feelings of vanity or bitterness. God made each of us unique in strengths and weaknesses. Compete against your own potential, rather than struggling to beat, supplant or surpass others: “…they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Cor.10:12).

• RIGHT COMPANIONS seed: You become the company you keep (Pro. 13:20; Cor.15:33). Friendships dramatically affect your fulfilment in life. Seeds of joy include healthy relationships that speak words of truth in love to build you up.

• PURPOSE INVESTMENT seed: Invest your life in the pursuit of purpose; something that draws you outside of yourself into the welfare of another. Devote your energies into a cause greater than yourself. Joy thrives in the place of purpose and service.

The Journey of Joy demands knowing and believing in God, being yourself, doing your best, not comparing, knowing that you are unique, nurturing mutually supportive relationships, and finding and pursuing a purpose bigger than yourself.