ARE YOU A PRODUCER OR A CONSUMER?

As you may know, the Dead Sea, in Israel, is called that way because it has no life in itself.  It is filled with salt and minerals, but no life can live there because there are no outlets. The water comes in but stays there or evaporate. For a lake or a pond to be alive, there has to be a flow of exchanges, water coming in and going out, and that is the same with people. 

Nowadays, it is more and more every man and every woman for themselves, but that is not the way to live. We all have needs, some may have extreme needs, and they may take some time and attention, but if all you are focused on is you and your needs, you are never going to be truly happy.

The happiest people in the world seem to be the ones who do the most as far as serving others and giving of themselves. I have lived in India for several years and I remember the day when, as we were walking down a street, poor people invited us into their humble home and fixed us a delicious chicken meal, treating us as kings ! In the midst of their poverty, they looked like the happiest people in the world ! This example can put us to shame, right?

These people were not just focused on their needs and wants, which I am sure were many. They were focused outward, they wanted to give out of themselves, they were outlets.

I know some people who, even though they are richer than most, are still dissatisfied because they always want more and envy what some other people have.  Maybe you live under the impression that if you finally get this list of needs and wants filled, then you will be happy. But no, the longer you live, the longer your list will be !

So why don’t you try focusing on other people and on their needs, and experience that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

If you want the recipe for happiness, I suggest you focus on love, and spend more time looking for ways to love and give and help, instead of focusing on yourself and your needs. 

As long as we are on this planet, we all have something to give, whether it is time or a kind word, wise counsel , financial help or even a piece of bread. We don’t have to totally consume everything we get our hands on because when we live like that, we are cheating ourselves out of the richer experiences of life.

In the world, there are producers and there are consumers. All of us should look at our lives and decide : « From now on, I want to be someone who produces more than he/she consumes. » I don’t mean to start a factory and produce things, I am talking about your life as an individual. And it can cover many areas.  « I don’t want to be the person in my circle of friends who is always taking, I don’t want to be the one who comes in with a cloud of depression, sadness, bad news or a critical attitude. I don’t want to always envy what others have. » 

Turn around and say, « There are people out there that are less fortunate than me and I am going to do something positive with my life. I want to give more than I take. » This is a godly desire that should inhabit all of us.

The Lord said : « If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink, and out of his belly will flow rivers of living water. » God wants us to have rivers of love and compassion and mercy flowing out of us. We need to see ourselves as producers, as people who are not just focused on themselves and on what they can get, but who are growing in the love of God .

You may seem religious or think you are, but what kind of love are you practicing around you, whether at home or with the people who are less fortunate than you ? The love of God causes us to look outward and that is where true happiness is.

There are so many things that we can do for others. Let’s begin right now to look outward : « I am going to let the love of God flow through my heart, I want to be a producer, a giver, and I am going to give more than I take. »