It's not about houses and paychecks

As I sat and read in Jeremiah chapter 12 this morning, I whole heartedly agreed with his question to God, "Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet you know me, O Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you." I can totally relate to his thinking here. Jeremiah goes a little too far in the next verse where he asks God to drag them off like sheep to be slaughtered. I don't quite go that far in my frustration, but I do relate to the sentiment. Why God? Why do many other people prosper when I am trying to serve you and it seems that you won't let me prosper. God, you know me and you know I'm trying to follow you, so why won't you let me prosper like them? And the answer gently comes from the Lord, "because your understanding of what it means to prosper is incorrect. It's not about houses and paychecks."

When I think about that, I realize my own sin. While saying I'm trying to follow the Lord, I am actually holding an idol in my heart of...can you guess it? Money and possessions. Let's be honest as long as we are pulling back the curtain and looking at what I'm really striving for. When do I have the most peace? When I have money in the bank. When do feel the best about myself? When people see my home and say it's a nice home. When do I feel wealthy? When I can buy a gift for someone or buy someone's lunch and not worry about the money or take a nice vacation. So, I am sitting here claiming to God that I'm following him and he should let me prosper when in fact I am asking him to help me worship other idols. Somebody just took a 2x4 and smacked me into next week.

Prospering is not about houses and paychecks. Being at peace is not about knowing you have money in the bank. Peace of mind and true prosperous living comes from knowing that there is a God who loves me, has my best interest at heart, and promises to take care of me. So, I don't have to know the plan for next week or next month. I don't have to know His total plan for my life. I couldn't understand His total plan for my life if He tried to explain it to me. But I know He's good and I know He's trustworthy. So, guess what? I am at peace and I am prospering in many ways that will last longer than my house and my paycheck. By focusing on those things, I can reach for the heights of success.

...and do you remember what is the heights of success? If I have given glory to God today in the things I have done, I have reached the heights of success.

The Search Continues...

Well, it’s been an interesting week as I continue to hunt for the illusive full-time position. While driving around Atlanta, I was listening to a cd produced by Success Magazine. (This is an excellent magazine, by the way, that includes a cd with each monthly issue containing short interviews or lessons or leadership and business strategy. Excellent information.) In the April issue, I was listening to Jim Rohn talk about leadership and the struggle of managing people. He spoke about how to spend your time with the 20% of the people that do 80% of the work. It sure made me think about which group I’m in. Finding the right full-time work is critical to making sure that we are capable of being in the top 20% of employees for a company. I know that I want to strive for that and therefore, I am trying to find the right fit so that this will be possible.

How do I find that right fit? Trying to find information about companies can be overwhelming. There are endless numbers of websites, research sites, library sites, etc. where you can find out information about a job or a company and hours can quickly pass and what have you gained? Some knowledge and information. Some new awareness of a business industry. Maybe it’s all for the general purpose of being educated in the world of business, but I sometimes get to the point where I’m really tired of staring at a computer. But, when you stop moving forward on some new lead, it feels like it’s slipping away and so you keep going a little longer. Then you find something that you think you would be great at and then you wait. And wait. And wait. It’s the waiting that is the hardest.

So, what do you do? Wait a little more. Be grateful that your wife or spouse is encouraging you. Keep chasing leads. Pray for patience. In the mean time, I try to read books, listen to cd’s, read the Bible, and trust in God’s provision. I’m learning patience and trust in a way I’ve never experienced before and hopefully this will prepare me for being a part of the top 20% in my next job so I can reach the Heights of Success.