Finding Happiness in Christ (Series 5)Sample

Sharing an apple

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

Hyrum Smith wrote, "When I was eight years old and living in the Hawaiian Islands, it looked like Christmas that year was going to be a pretty sad Christmas for our family. My parents gathered us to explain to us (we are seven siblings) that we didn't have enough money for Christmas. Each of us will choose the one gift we want the most, and that gift will be the only gift we will receive.” Smith liked apples, so he asked for a basket of apples.

His parents were astonished, but on Christmas day, they managed to give Smith "the most beautiful basket of apples I have ever seen." Smith only found out a few years later that since apples were not grown in Hawaii, they had to be shipped from elsewhere. He had asked for a very expensive gift!

He recalled, "As soon as my whole family opened their gifts, I took my basket of apples and went to find friends near my house. Within hours, I had given away all my apples. I remember how wonderful it was to share my apples with all my friends; the fact that they were gone before sunset was not a problem for me." From that experience, Smith later gained an understanding of what he called the "abundance mentality."

The more cheerfully we give to others, the more abundantly we receive.

Happiness is a perfume you can't pour on others without getting a few drops for yourself.

Reflection: Stephen R. Covey discusses mental abundance in his "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" book. Abundant-minded people are effective people who think all the necessities of life are available to everyone in a balanced way of life. So, there is nothing to worry about, even though they know this balanced order of life is being damaged by other groups with a greedy mentality. As Christians, we must have an abundance mentality because Jesus guarantees our lives.

God not only wants to make us happy, but He also wants to make us useful. 

(Beth Moore)