I want your help, but I don't want your life...

Can you change the condition of a person without changing the character and identity of the person?  Can you truly give without the idea of what will come of the gift?  Have you ever considered not giving to someone in need based on a fear of what they might do with it?  (i.e. “I don’t give money to homeless people because they will just use it to buy drugs and alcohol.”)

Have you ever considered leaving a card, flowers, an amount of money or a needed care package and a note, unsigned, for a neighbor, friend and homeless person in your city or a co-worker.   The note could read something like:   

“I’m not exactly sure what you’re going through and I’m unaware of your needs at this moment in your life but I hope this small gift can help.” 

However…….    Too many of us often excuse ourselves from giving of our time, money, talents or love based on the belief, “If I only had more ___________ I could help so many people in need”.

Remember that the world is improved by the people who use the tools and resources they have and not by the tools and resources they want. 

I could write on this subject for days but an expert on the subject has already thoroughly covered this topic.  Below are His thoughts. (Actually, more like commands…) 

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prision, and you came to Me."

"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?' 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the brothes of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."  - Matthew 25:35

Who is to say that the next great leader is not currently a homeless man/women walking around your city?  Just remember, Moses was a “basket case” before someone decided to improve his conditions. 

That seemed to work out pretty well for the people of Israel…” 

Your thoughts?

THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

One morning, you are lying in bed (after hitting the snooze button for the third time) playing out the new day in your mind and all that needs to be completed.  Just when you’re about to close your eyes so as to delay reality five more minutes, the doorbell rings.

“Who could be at the door at this hour?”

You try to improve your appearance the best you can between the bedroom and the front door.  Peering out the small window on the front door you see an older gentleman standing.  He is well dressed and carrying a large briefcase. You open the door to inquire the reason for his visit.

“Mr. / Mrs. __________”, he states your name politely.

“Yes, can I help you?” you respond.

“No”, he states, “but maybe I can help you.  I have been told that you have a dream and spend many of your days thinking about it but never do anything about it.”

You look at him with a puzzled expression but slowly nod in agreement.

He continues…

“Well, I’m here to make you an offer.  May I come in?”

You invite the gentleman into your living room where you both take a seat.  He then presents you with the following offer.

“In this briefcase, I have a lot of money.  I am going to give this money to you to help build your dream with one stipulation.  I will be knocking on your door on this exact same day in one year.  All I will ask is that you hand me my briefcase back with the same amount of money I left you.  Between today and the next year, you can use this money any way you decide without my intervention.  When I come back for the money, I will not ask what you did with it, how well you did with it, or if you simply put it aside and never thought of it again.  It’s your choice.  Have a good day!”

The choice is now yours.  You can invest in the market, in other people, or yourself to help build your dream.  You can choose to place the money out of sight and hand the briefcase back in one year.  It’s your choice.  What would you do?

Now….. Go back to the story and replace one word.  Replace the word “Money” with the word “Time”.

Have you ever realized that you are given this opportunity everyday that you wake up?  And not only are you given this opportunity, the gift you're given (time) is many times more valuable than money. 

For the next year, the choice is yours.  Will you spend the next year investing your time in building a business, in other people, or to improve yourself?  Will you just place your days aside, always planning to begin living tomorrow and just give another year of your life away without using it?  It’s your choice.  What will you do? 

AT THE HEART OF SUCCESS, IS HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME