‘The Bumper Crop’.  Farmers, fisher folk, producers in every capacity rejoice at their harvest time and there is often a greater sense of rejoicing if the yield is good – in fact the bigger the better.  That is certainly the general expectation of our culture.  But does it always need to be bigger and better or are their limits and how do we find a balance in our lives and in the areas that we work and are entrusted with?  Whether that is working the fields, in industry or harvesting from our oceans or other places.

This happens in the Christian life too.  The challenge comes when we compare ourselves to others.  We all seem to be searching for some idealistic form of perfection.  We are always looking to upgrade our lives: to have the nicer car, the bigger house, the ever-expanding wardrobe, the more impressive education.  We have bought into the deception that these things will somehow give us greater credibility – not just with others, but even with ourselves.  We think that these things will justify our existence and prove our worth.  Yet if we can stand back and listen to the words of Paul, ‘I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.’  Philippians 4 v 11.  Contentment in all circumstances is the key to helping us get off the treadmill of life that demands constantly more, bigger and better and quickly destroys us as individuals and the world around us.  Contentment is a key Kingdom value that we don’t often touch on, possibly because we find it too challenging!  The dictionary definition of contentment is ‘the state of being happy and satisfied, ease of mind.’  Let’s actively learn to seek and cultivate contentment in our lives as we thank God for all He blesses us with, especially at Harvest time.

Now thank we all our God

with heart and hands and voices,

who wondrous things has done,

in whom his world rejoices;

who from our mothers’ arms

has blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love,

and still is ours today.