What is your greatest joy?

What is your greatest joy? What would make you the happiest person in the world?

Here are some of mine:
– Writing a bestselling fiction book
– Getting married to the woman of my dreams
– Owning a private jet to go anywhere I want
– Giving a talk to a crowd of millions

OK, I’ve exposed myself. Now it’s your turn. Think it through and write out a list if you want. Done it? Good.

My list as you have seen is nice and seems rather worldly. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to own a mansion or a plane. But will that really make you happy?

I don’t think so. It’s got to be something deeper than material things. Just look at King Solomon. He tried everything, I mean everything, to make himself happy. Wealth, women, wine and work. It made him happy for an instant only.

You think that getting that fancy gadget or branded handbag will make you happy is because you haven’t got it yet. Our joy can’t be rooted to things.

I would like to share something that will make you happy. The first event is accepting Jesus as your Saviour. And the next most joyful event, according to John the apostle was this:

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

John’s greatest joy was to know that his children were walking in the truth. The simplest statements are often the  most profound. I don’t think John was referring only to his physical but his spiritual children.

It is not about age. A 70-year-old man mentoring a 45-year-old is like a spiritual father to him. People in your Sunday school class are your children. The person you are discipling or mentoring is your child. And of course, if you are a parent, you have children.

The question is this: Are they walking in the truth? Or have they strayed away and need you to get back on the path?

I pray that your greatest joy is to see people walking in the truth. That is the best legacy you can give. Make sure your children, physical and spiritual, keep walking in the truth long after we’re gone. That legacy would be your greatest joy.

What is your greatest joy?