The Census Bureau field officer was very professional as he conducted the phone survey. The survey started with “How do you feel about your life? You had 10 options, the number 10 being the best feeling. When I gave my very emphatic answer, we both laughed. I scored my feeling about my life a good 10 for one reason. I know my joy generator and I am here to tell you that you must know your joy generator.
If there had been a higher number, I would have scored that and after a while, we stopped laughing. It was time to explain why I feel good about life. And so that he does not mistake that for somebody who simply attends church, I told him that I am a real Christian.
But as the survey proceeded, I was regularly taken aback by some of the questions. It felt as though the government was interested in making me feel ill. And I can see where it is coming from. Unless enough people feel bad about their lives, there is no justification for a huge mental health budget. I get it.
Nonetheless, that is not for me because I know the origin of my joy. And it is critical that you must know your joy generator. My joy generator is Jesus and I am hoping He is yours. When He is on the inside of you, He keeps generating joy in your life.
That means that no matter the circumstances, you can have constant joy. Does this mean you don’t have hours or days when you are disappointed? That would hardly be normal but because Jesus is inside, He soon generates enough joy to overcome whatever sorrow is present.
You Must Know Your Joy Generator Is Not Government
About two-thirds through the survey, we came upon a question that the interviewer said he could answer for me. Although being the professional that he is, he still went ahead and asked it. “Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in the last 30 days?”
Thank God, by then, he had realized I had somebody very important in my life. He would not want me depending on smoke or drink for my joy. You must know your joy generator, as otherwise, the government will make you dependent on itself. Now, there are some great governments in the world, just as there are some corrupt ones.
But no matter how great a government is, it cannot satisfy all your needs. Only Jesus can do that for you and also give you joy. You must know your joy generator is not the government but perhaps you already know that! You don’t need me telling you how often your government has let you down.
I am willing to bet that the result of my survey was a disappointment to the government. The government cannot, from my answers, make a case for the expansion of Medicare, for instance. And that is because, in addition to giving me joy, Jesus gives me good health.
Indeed, the bible says He gives us richly all things to enjoy. Do you know Jesus? Before you answer, consider: What comes to your mind the minute you come awake each morning? Unless it is the name of Jesus, you cannot claim to know Him. But for you to have joy, you must know your joy generator.
Stuff Can Give Some Joy
Are we saying you cannot have joy unless and until you know Jesus? Not at all. But having joy and knowing your joy generator is like being given a fish versus learning to fish. Of course, stuff can give you joy but it is temporary at best. Arriving at a desired destination, be it in physical travels or other endeavors, can also give you joy. For instance, when you graduate, you experience joy.
Consider the immigrants who take an arduous 2000-mile journey to get to the US. Once they step on the soil of the desired destination, they report experiencing joy. Revisit them after two months and they are already complaining. That is because the joy that stuff gives you is fleeting, extremely.
But when you have someone with you who continually generates joy, you cannot run out of joy. And only Jesus can do that for you. That is why you must know your joy generator is Jesus. I remember a lady in the church wondering if I was happier here than in my last country of domicile.
Thinking about it for a moment, I realized that I had always enjoyed every country and city. I responded with “I enjoy every location. And that is because the source of my joy is inside of me.” My joy does not come from the outside. And that is why you must know your joy generator. It is not dependent on any outside scenario.
Money Does Not Generate Joy
If your joy came from the outside, the European billionaire would not have committed suicide. Ask the billionaire who committed suicide. Before the great depression, he was worth six billion dollars. By the time the recession was over and done with, he was worth only five billion dollars.
Most of us would never have five billion dollars but that did not stop him from taking his own life. That is because the money was serving as his joy generator. And his case is not unique. Celebrities regularly commit suicide because they don’t have a joy generator.
You now begin to see why you must know your joy generator is not money or fame or anything else. The only one who can constantly generate joy for you is Jesus.
You Must Know Your Joy Generator And Befriend Him
You know how God makes His sun rise on the good and the evil. He sends rain on the just and the unjust. Similarly, He can bestow joy regardless of your Christianity. But for Him to generate joy Jesus has to be living within you. That means you must invite Him into your life to live.
Otherwise, your life could be a roller-coaster of joy and sorrow. For constant and perpetual joy, you must know your joy generator. And then, you must invite him in. Now, you are wondering at those statements since you know a lot of Christians whose lives are not always joyous.
That is because not everybody who calls God Lord truly belongs to Him. A lot are simply warming the chairs in church but you can be different. You must know your joy generator – truly know Him.
Maranatha!
