Once upon a time, there lived a farmer who grew high-quality, award-winning corn. Each year he would enter the state Farmer’s Fair and win a gold award for his exceptionally good crop of corn.

The farmer’s high-quality corn was praised all around the state. The success story of his exceptional corn reached the ears of a journalist, and he went to interview the farmer. While he was learning about the agriculture process of the farmer, he was surprised to discover that the farmer shared his best quality seeds with his neighbors.

“How can you afford to share your best corn seeds with your neighbors when some of them compete with you in the agriculture fair?” asked the curious reporter.

“Why wouldn’t I, sir?” asked the farmer. “Don’t you know that the wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field? If my neighbors grow inferior quality corn, cross-pollination would eventually degrade the quality of my corn as well. If I am to grow high-quality corn, I must help my neighbors to also grow good corn.”

The farmer’s answer made the reporter realize how aware the old farmer was about connections in life.

It is the same with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help others around them to live in peace as well. The one who wishes to be loved must first learn to love others. The one who chooses to live well must help to make others live well, too; the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. Those who choose to be happy must let others find their happiness; the welfare of each is intertwined with the welfare of all.

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And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased, Hebrews 13:16 NIV

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:4 NLT

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  1 Timothy 6: 6-7, 10 NASB

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Let’s be cautious about relying so much on material things that we have no energy left for the spiritual aspects of our lives.  - James A. Forbes

“A beautiful heart can bring things into your life that all the money in the world couldn’t obtain.” - Dau Voire.

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If you liked this story and would like a copy of either of my books,
they are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format:

If you have a story or testimony that you think might bless others,
I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.

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