Despise Not Small Beginnings

"Who despises the day of small things?” Zechariah 4:10, NIV

There is no such thing as an overnight success story. We all love to believe that they exist, if for no other reason than to leave us with the hope that one day success will also find its way to our doorstep. After all, we pay our tithes faithfully and even give offerings above and beyond to our local church and various missions organizations, as the Lord leads. Isn’t that supposed to swing wide the windows of heaven and pour down piles of money into our laps, so much so that we can’t contain it? This possibility, regardless of how remote, keeps us hanging on; shuffling our way through each day until that monumental moment happens to us…just like it happened to that nice young man we heard about from the evangelist on TV.

As hard as it may be for some people in the Church to grasp, financial freedom and economic prosperity does not simply fall in our laps. (My temptation is to write about how I don’t want my words here to burst anyone’s bubble, but that would be disingenuous of me, because that’s exactly what I want to do!) Until we “prepare [our] minds for action” (1 Peter 1:13), and then ACT, we will never see the success that we so fervently desire. It’s the mindset of waiting, watching, and hoping that has kept the Church at large destitute, ineffective, and unable to fulfill its earthly mission.

From the beginning of time until today, every successful business, invention, ministry, or organization has been built the exact same way; small step-by-small step, difficult decision after difficult decision. The reason why we think overnight success stories do exist in our society is because we’re not privy to the blood, sweat, and tears that goes on behind the scenes before that multi-million dollar company goes public, the famous actor gets his big break, or before the world renowned evangelist becomes, well…world renowned.

The other night my wife and I were flipping through the channels and came across a show called Gladiators 2000, a teenage spin-off of the mega-hit American Gladiators, originally filmed back in the 1990’s. As a student of all things successful, my interest was not necessarily peaked by the fast-paced, dramatic nature of the competition, but rather by the name of the 19-year old host of the program: Ryan Seacrest. For those of you who have not been sucked in by the reality singing competition known as “American Idol,” allow me to give you an update on pop culture. Ryan Seacrest is also the host of that particular program, which just so happens to be the #1 rated television show in America. Accompanying those high ratings is also an extremely high paycheck for one Mr. Seacrest (now 34), who made in excess of 20 million dollars last year, as well as landing some other high-profile gigs such as hosting the Emmy Awards, Dick Clark’s “New Years Rockin’ Eve,” and the American Top 40 radio program, just to name a few.

Most people are familiar with the fame, success, and glamour that surround stars like Ryan, but few people know of their tireless work ethic and undying commitment to their craft that is typical of successful people in any industry. Those close to Ryan tell stories of his passion for radio, and how he had crafted a smooth presentation early in his teen years. After a few years as a DJ in his native Georgia, Ryan moved to L.A. and began hosting a radio show for just $15 an hour (which in Southern California has you living well below the poverty line). However, Ryan didn’t despise his small beginnings, and kept pushing towards the success that he knew could be his if he stayed committed to the process. This same story can be found in countless successful businesses, even those that were started in the middle of recessionary periods of our country’s history.

The oil crisis of 1973 sparked the largest recession in our nation since World War II. The high gas prices would have deterred nearly any entrepreneur from starting a business that relied heavily on transportation. Apparently nobody told that to Frederick W. Smith, founder of the mega-shipping giant, FedEx Corp (or perhaps they did tell him, and he just wasn’t listening). Beginning its operations on April 17, 1973 as Federal Express, the company delivered a mere 186 packages to 25 cities on its first night of operations. Not exactly an overnight success story (no pun intended). However, with a strong business plan and an even stronger work ethic, FedEx grew into the financial juggernaut that it is today, now managing more than 7.5 million shipments everyday worldwide.

Our fast food, microwave-ready, instant coffee society has conditioned us to expect immediate gratification, but in business things don’t always work that way. Successful enterprises are built the same way in recessions as they are during times of abundance, and that’s through hard work and dedication. As you begin to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams, don’t become discouraged if things don’t happen for you right away. The day of small beginnings should not be despised, but rather embraced as a time of trial & error, learning, growing, and developing a master plan that will launch you into success in the years to come. As more people succumb to the fear and dread being propagated by the news media, the greater the opportunity becomes for those who have the drive and commitment to take action and make things happen. Being an entrepreneur is not always a bed of roses at first, but over time it can create a wonderful life for you, your family, and those you choose to bless with your wealth and financial increase. Stay committed to the process, even in times of recession, and you will certainly see amazing results!

Recession Success Stories

It is often in the midst of economic turmoil that enormous fortunes are lost. Today’s recession is certainly no different. As credit tightens, and consumer confidence wanes, many of the mighty titans of Wall Street are left waiting around for their “stimulus package” to come riding in on a white stallion to save their ailing balance sheets. However, as we have seen with the previous installments of stimuli, throwing bad money at bad businesses with bad management will not produce good results. Those businesses that don’t adjust fast enough to a changing economy will surely fail. It is a simple free market principle, and today we are all witnesses of that fact.

However, at the same time that fortunes are being lost by some, great wealth is also being amassed by others. Those who possess the entrepreneurial spirit are finding unique niches within the marketplace and are positioning themselves to profit from the present economic conditions. These individuals continue to succeed because they are always looking forward, staying adaptable, and rising to meet the challenges of a changing economy. They focus on creating new customers, while searching for new opportunities to meet the needs of their current customers, and for this effort they are being handsomely rewarded.

I guess you might call me a bit of a contrarian, but I truly believe that now is one of the best times to be an entrepreneur, and for many of the same reasons it’s a great time to buy real estate. It may sound a little counterintuitive, if not absolutely insane, to start a business in the middle of one of the worst recessions in decades. However, if you look back at the history of business in the United States, some of our greatest success stories were either started, or substantially grew, during seasons of economic contraction.

From General Electric’s start in the panic of 1873 to Microsoft’s humble beginnings during the recession of 1975 (and many in between), some of the world’s largest and most profitable companies were started when most people would have never considered beginning a new venture. But then again, Thomas Edison and Bill Gates were not “most people” and neither should you be.

Over the next few weeks, I will be analyzing some of the most successful recession start-ups of the past 150 years, and sharing with you some powerful business lessons. My hope and prayer is that these stories will inspire you to reach higher, and to believe God to bless you even in the midst of famine, as he did for Isaac in Genesis 26. Now is not the time for you to take your business aspirations and put them up on a shelf for a “better time”. This in fact may be the perfect time for you to tap into your God-given potential and watch Him come along side of you to help bring to fruition your entrepreneurial dreams.

Can You Squeeze through the Needle’s Eye?

I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a happy New Year (even if I am a little late in doing it). I am filled with optimism and unbridled enthusiasm as I look toward the future, a time I believe is filled with endless possibilities for each and every one of us. We launch into 2009 in the midst of a major worldwide recession, and yet my hope is undaunted. Some of the most successful businesses of the last century were started during years of economic downturn. There are niches and opportunities for entrepreneurs to grab hold of, and prosper from, especially if they are backed by the full force and anointing of Jehovah Jireh, our Great and Mighty Provider.

I plan on spending some time over the next few weeks analyzing some of those successful businesses, as well as some of the niches in today’s marketplace that could bring prosperity and abundance to those who seize it. God has blessed his children in the midst of famine and prosperity in the past, and I believe he is poised to do it once again. However, before I dive into that meaty subject, I would ask for you to bear with me as I take one more blog post to finish up my series on “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse”. The most important aspect of analyzing Matthew 19:24 has yet to be touched upon, and I believe it’s important that we take a closer look at it.

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24, NIV)

If someone were to read verse 24 by itself, and go no further in the story, it is very easy to see how they could be led to the false assumption that God wants his people to abandon the notion of prosperity and live their lives in poverty and lack. However, when you take the time to read the next 2 verses, and consider verse 24 within the context of the conversation, you will come to a far different conclusion.

Many believers hate the idea of context, because it prevents them from manipulating Scripture to say what they want it to say. But shouldn’t our ultimate goal be to seek out what God is trying to say, rather than distorting the words of the Holy Writ to push forward our own agenda and/or belief system? Let’s check out verse 24 one more time, but now in the perspective within which it rightly belongs.

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:24-26, NIV. Emphasis added)

To fully understand why the disciples were “greatly astonished” at Jesus’ words, you must have an understanding of more than just the literary context, but the historical context as well. During the time of Jesus’ life on earth, material wealth was considered a sign of God’s favor. Of course, there were some wealthy and influential people who were revealed by Jesus to be a “brood of vipers” and a stench in the nostrils of God. However, there were also many known by the disciples to be faithful followers of Christ who were blessed with great wealth and abundance. If these God-fearing men were unable to get into the kingdom of God, then the question must be asked, “Who then can be saved?” (Verse 25)

Jesus immediately clarifies his position with his next statement, “With man this (“this” being a rich man getting into heaven) is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Verse 26) Jesus knew the disciples’ hearts, and was encouraging them not to let their hearts be troubled over these great men of God who were rich in this present world. Faithful servants of Christ like Joseph of Arimathea (who would eventually provide Jesus’ burial tomb) and Zacchaeus (who had been radically converted), both men of great wealth, still had a place in His Kingdom because “with God” all things are possible.

The absolute life changing phrase here is “with God.” There are a lot of things that happen “with God” that wouldn’t otherwise take place. Jesus used the illustration regarding the eye of the needle to once again illustrate the awesome power of God to transform the heart of mankind. If a person’s heart & life are entangled in this world ruled by the prince of darkness and his minions, it will certainly keep them from taking up residence in Heaven. Riches often become a god to the lost and have the tendency to bring out the worst in mankind; greed, materialism, and corruption. Many become consumed with the idea of making more and building their own personal kingdoms on earth. Worldly possessions become their focus and the thirst for “More, Bigger, and Better” can never be quenched.

However “with God”, and his transforming power, the impossible now becomes possible. Those with wealth are not consumed by it, but rather use it for the good of those around them. Their financial independence affords them the opportunity to donate their time to a local church or ministry (Ephesians 4:12), give to missions and fund ministries (Phil 4:15-17), take care of the poor, orphans & widows (Acts 4:34, 35; James 1:27), provide for their own families (1 Tim 5:8), and leave an inheritance for their children’s children (Prov. 13:22). “With God” our hearts are changed and we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. “With God” there is new vision, new purpose, and new direction in our lives. “With God” money is no longer something that defiles and corrupts, but rather a tool that is used for the purposes of God and his Kingdom. With God, with God, with God!!!! Hallelujah!!!

That’s what Jesus was saying! That’s the power of context! How much clearer could Jesus be in this passage of Scripture? And yet many Christians have excused their own poverty for years by standing on verse 24 alone, as if it’s some kind of badge of honor to be broke, busted and disgusted.

That’s why I believe this is by far one of the devil’s favorite Bible verses. He probably has a cross-stitched version of the verse framed over his rocking chair in Hell. He would love for us to believe that God wants us poor. The emptier our wallets are, the more effective his kingdom of darkness remains. The wealth of the wicked may very well be laid up for the righteous, but if the devil can keep us from taking action to lay hold of it, he has that much more money to do his evil bidding.

For this new year of 2009, I pray now more than ever that God would give you a healthy view of wealth, prosperity, and abundance. I believe that a mighty deluge of His “power to create wealth” will overtake you this year! I pray that your mind and spirit will receive numerous God ideas and inventions, as well as the creativity and ingenuity to market and sell them for profit. I pray that the business idea that has been placed inside of you, that may have become dormant in recent years, COME ALIVE IN JESUS’ HOLY NAME!

I promise to continue doing my part to inspire, motivate, and equip you in the coming year to pursue your God-given dreams and visions. I look forward to the stream of testimonials that will flow into my e-mail box in the coming months. Until next week, be blessed…