Happiness – Personal Reflection
3 John 2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Recently I was going through a transition period of job changing. One Saturday, I had to go back to collect my last pay cheque. On that same day, I bumped into 2 lovely ex-colleagues of mine who were performing their usual Saturday shifts. As expected, the usual catch-ups begun and they were anxious to find out how I had been since joining the new place.
My reply? I smile from my heart, “I am happy”.
I was infinitely touched as I hear my ex-colleague respond in this way: “Yes, that is the key thing, as long as you are happy, that is the most important thing”. Such kind words I’ve received even though I may not be journeying with them anymore in the same place..
What does happiness constitute to you?
Ecclesiastes 9:11
11 I returned and saw under the sun that—
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.
And yet at another place:
Ecc 3: 13
and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
Is there really a secret to happiness or is it just to live and to enjoy the work of our labour as mentioned in Ecclesiastes 3:13?
I remember my Senior Pastor ever shared with us who are the truly happy ones :
He proverbs 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
And,
Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Colossians 1:16-17 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
If through Him and by Him all things are Created, and we are also created for Him, won’t it be awesome to know and find out what it means to be IN Him?
John 15:5 (NKJV) says “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:7-8(NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
John 15:16 (Amp Classic) You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name as My representative He may give to you.
God has chosen us, Gave His Life for us, and appointed us to bear much fruit in life.
What does bearing fruit mean to you? It could mean prospering in your career or getting the promotion that you are working hard for, it could mean a blissful family, or it could also mean building meaningful relationships with people, etc
When the Lord formed us and brought us into this world, He meant to give us the abundant life. (John 10:10) And to flow in His Vine Life!
Come, partake of Him, for He is our Abundant Life!!
Contributed by RY
