I used to work in the Nationwide Insurance Claims Center in Columbus, Ohio. One morning I got into work and logged onto my computer, began to ready myself for the day when Ragna came in and went to work in the cubicle beside me. She looked over at me and said thoughtfully, “Why are you so happy all the time?”
My initial response was, “Ragna, I have seven children. (eight now) The Bible says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward, happy is the man who has a quiver full of them.’ I have seven children so that is one of the reasons I am so happy all the time.”
She thought for a minute but did not seem satisfied with my answer. “I don’t have any children, so how can I be happy?” Just then a phone call came in and we had to go to work, but at the first opportunity I put my phone on hold and took off my headset to answer Ragna’s question. She looked into my eyes for the answer.
“Ragna, you were created by God and you were made to worship Him and enjoy Him. In this life there are many things that will give you temporary and incomplete happiness. You can enjoy food, relationships, romance, experiences, adventures, honors, possessions and pleasures and all of them will bring some happiness. But inside you there is a deep spiritual hunger that no person, experience or possession can ever fully satisfy. Only God can do that.”
I went on to explain to gospel to my friend and she listened thoughtfully. My happiness had given me an opportunity to tell Ragna the gospel. My favorite tip for those that desire to give the gospel to their friends is, “Love them ’til they ask you why’ but this is another very powerful missionary technique: “Be happy ’til they ask you why.”
That’s something to think about the next time you are tempted to curse the traffic or complain about the boss at work. Be a happy Christian, a joyful believer. If you do maybe people will ask you the secret of your happiness and you can tell them all about Jesus.
A Powerful Verbal Blessing
One morning I was feeling the pressure of many responsibilities. I was a little overcome and overwhelmed. It brought fog into my heart and robbed me of my smile. People around me could tell it.
The next day I received a phone call from my boss, Mr. Gothard. He has literally “written the book” on how to bless. The book is a wonderful little volume called, “The Power of Spoken Blessins.” He had prepared a biblical blessing for me. He said; “Today I read the last words of David. Are you familiar with the last words of David?” I hesitated. He read the passage to me.
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. (2 Samuel 23:2)
Then he said, “Ken, when I read that it reminded me of you. You rise early every day to write and try to be a blessing to people like the sun coming up every morning. That is how I see you. You are a blessing to everyone you meet.”
Of course when I got off the phone I marked the passage in my Bible and I have returned to it over and over again, especially when I am tempted to allow my responsibilities to rob me of my smile. I want to be like the sun rising on my world every day like the light of the morning when the sun rises on a cloudless morning and the rain is gone. I want to live up to my blessing. I want to have a disposition that makes people curious about Jesus. I want to be happy until they ask me why.
A Classic Re-post from 2004
Ken Pierpont
Riverfront Character Inn
Flint, Michigan
October 18, 2004
