Shrewd Investment tip: Invest in the lives of others. Real success will be the relationships we have built, the lives we have touched, the people we have loved and who have loved us and invested in us.
Remember the story in the New Testament about the paralyzed man who had four loyal, committed, inventive friends, who put him on a stretcher and carried him to Jesus? There were so many people listening to Jesus that they couldn't get near Him. Failure clearly wasn't even a thought, so they eventually found a way. Destructive and difficult as it was, they did it anyway. They climbed on top of the house, cut a hole in the roof and lowered him down with ropes. These guys were creative, out of the box thinkers!
It's like being in a pleasure class, and just before you get in front of the judge someone cuts in front of you and causes your horse to break stride. We would have absolutely hated those guys. If we were sitting outside the house waiting for our turn to talk to Jesus and all of a sudden we see some vandals cutting in line in front of us, and destroying the roof of someone's home, we would have been furious. Important to note, Jesus did not send them to the back of the line. He was impressed with their creative faith. They got Jesus attention!
Another interesting note: When Jesus prayed for the paralytic He said, 'son your sins are forgiven'. Then it says, "When He saw their faith", the faith of the friends. It makes no sense. It's like going to the ATM and withdrawing $500.00 and the cash goes to the lady at the next ATM. It doesn't compute. Maybe God knows more about us by the people who know us than by what we know about ourselves. On account of the faith of these four loyal friends, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven." These guys vandalized a home, and dropped their friend at the feet of Jesus, yet there seems to be no personal benefit for them. If God saw your faith, wouldn't you expect something out of it? Because of your faith you'll be 20 years younger tomorrow, or you'll receive an unexpected check in the mail. If you have great faith shouldn't it be personally beneficial? We want faith to benefit us, nontransferable, like club memberships and investments.
So the guy on the stretcher gets healed. All the benefits go to the guy whose faith isn't worth noting, and none of it goes to the heroes who had great, life saving faith. Do you think the friends are disappointed? These friends had moved up to a level of living that received gratification from the healing and wholeness of their friend. His success was their success! We all need people we are invested in, friends we give our lives to no matter what may come, people who matter more to us than ourselves. These men cared about their friend.
The million-dollar question is: Do you have four friends who value you so highly, because of the investment you have made in their lives that they wouldn't leave you behind. Living an awakened life becomes a shrewd investment. We invest in the future of others. That's where God has taught us to place our value. All the resources you need to live out the greatness of your dreams are in the people whose lives you touch. They are your legacy. You believe in the power of love and are willing to take the risks of living in the thick of human community. Your life, success and values are all connected to relationships. It's all about people.
You can achieve a level of success and be alone. It's impossible to experience sustainable, enjoyable success alone. If you will start giving yourself away to others at a deep, transparent, honest level, in your weakest moments you will not be alone, and they will refuse to see you fail. They will pick you up, drag you to your horse, put you on, and get you across the finish line so you will fulfill the dream that God has placed in your heart.
Has some one betrayed your trust or broke your heart when you completely trusted them? Have you ever received devastating news and the person who promised to do anything for you disappeared? Tell me about how it felt, and if you had 'four crazy, faith filled, creative friends' or did you find yourself all alone? Have you invested enough in the lives of your friends that they would be there for you, no matter what? Have you planted enough in others that you'll reap a great reward when you need it most? Do the people you surround yourself with have the kind of faith that will go against the rules to get you to where you need to go?
I have been through a season of deep heartbreak and betrayal. There was some one in my life that I would have given my life for, covered their back, and completely believed in. When I faced one of my darkest hours, they just disappeared. When I needed a friend and I needed help, they were nowhere to be found. During the same time I got very sick, they knew I was all alone, and they never even asked if I was OK. They had made promises that I had given all I had to support, and they never even had the respect, let alone decency, to let me know they had never meant a word they said. I had put my trust in them. I acted on business plans we made because I believed in their integrity. When others questioned their motivations I defended them. It broke my heart and caused me to question myself on every level. How could I have loved and respected someone who could so easily and thoroughly betray me? I had been transparent and vulnerable on purpose because I was sure I was safe because of their great character. How could I have been so blind to their selfish manipulation? The saddest part is that they really have what it takes to be what they tried so hard to pretend to be. It was fear of failure that caused them to run away. Settling for what was safe will keep them from ever reaching their dream. They are selling themselves so short. Believing a lie. Secretly they don't believe that they have what it takes.
*What God taught me has changed me forever. He said, Elaine, this happened because you put trust in man and not it me. You made me too small in your eyes. You didn't think I would save you. You took the council of men and not me. You tried to do what only I can do. Your security was in someone, not in me. No human can ever give you what you need. Your hope is in me alone, I will never leave you or forsake you. You also were not equally yoked; you were trying to run toward your vision with someone whose faith was not equal to yours. When things got tough they ran. I allowed the pressure to show you what kind of a friend they really were. They cared about what you could do for them. I saved you from further pain and disappointment. Being in partnership with someone who is on a different foundation would have held you back and opened you to further attack. Put your trust in me. I am faithful and true. I don't change. I love you, always and forever. Let me be your safe place, your constant help in times of trouble. I will cause you to mount up with wings like eagles, to walk and not grow weary to run and not faint.
Can you say that you trust God and not man? It's important that you do because people will treat you the way you treat yourself. If you don't like the way people are treating you, ask yourself, "What message am I sending?" In order to be treated well you should send the message, "I am somebody because God made me somebody." Therefore, I feel good about me.
I'm talking about an inner beauty that causes people to turn and look at you and ask, "Who's that?" when you walk into a room. It's not your physical appearance but because your presence has impact. This isn't pride; it's just a healthy self esteem based on God's opinion of you. It's what I call God-esteem! When you have it, it affects the way you talk to others, perform in the ring, do business, and even the people you call close friends. The paralytic had God-esteem. He had friends that had his back! They knew what he believed and did whatever it took to see that it got done when he was unable to do it himself. His friends thought themselves successful because of what they made happen for someone else. They were on a much higher level, a level that wasn't about them. They had true investment savvy, what we make happen for others, God will make happen for us. They were true leaders. Servant leaders! Those who are first will be last and those who are last, God will make first! I'd rather have God cover my back…you won't get shot in the back that way! He calls us friend…wow! He….calls us friend. I'll take Him. He goes before us to make a way and He follows behind us to cover our back! I choose Jesus!
Do you have four faithful, creative, bold friends who will do whatever it takes to get to where you are going? Have you invested wisely in someone's life? Did you get left holding the bag for someone else's choices? Have you had to pay for someoneelse's poor character? Have you been betrayed by someone you cared deeply about? What have you learned about yourself? How can you use what you've learned to help someone else? How do you recover from a devastating betrayal? What is your attitude toward the person or people who hurt you? I really care about what has happened in your life. Write to me and let me share the healing path that I have traveled (and am still traveling!). There is great hope and healing found in real love! We can travel this road together…we were not created to do life alone.
Bye the way; I do have four amazing, crazy, think outside the box, cut in line, house climbing, vandalizing, faithful friends! They know where I'm going, how I'm going to get there and whom I'm going with…them! I love them, am grateful for their faithfulness and strength. They are heroes to me. They walk the walk, not just talk the talk. They have sweet, ripe, fruit on their trees. I thank God for them!