HomeWord - June 5, 2008
Ideas Need Friends Too
This devotional was written by Dan Johnson
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6
Have you ever been so excited to share a dream or idea that you shared your valuable secret with a less than worthy confidante? Perhaps in an effort to find support for your world-changing plan, you “cast your pearl before a swine” and went away disappointed or let down. Many times, I have looked for a kindred soul who has the ability, the attitude and the willingness to help foster what may or may not be a world-changing idea but is, at the very least, a cherished hope. If you’ve been in this situation, don’t lose heart and don’t stop believing. You have the pearls. Now you just need someone who enjoys them.
Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield had an idea for a book. They enthusiastically set out with a proposal and in no time received 33 rejection letters from publishers. They were turned down by 134 more at the annual booksellers’ convention. Finally a small publisher agreed to take on their project, but not before they agreed to buy the first 20,000 copies themselves. And they were hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. After their book appeared, it took nearly 14 months of almost nonstop work and promotion to hit the bestseller lists. Today, their book series, Chicken Soup, has sold over 100 million copies and generated more than a billion dollars in sales. Why? Because they persisted in what they knew was a God-given dream even when swine outnumbered pearl lovers more than 100:1.
Most people don’t want to be dream crushers. They are simply too busy, too limited in their imagination or are unable to grasp what means so much to you. Take heart. God has put life and energy in you today. There are unique contributions that only you can make to the world. Without you, the world would be a poorer place. Keep honing the dream, understanding that the “dead ends” and delays are only part of the process God is using to develop the character inside that will sustain you when your dream becomes a reality. Persist; the journey is the point. And keep your eyes open for those who are eyeing you to see if you, too, may be a lover of fine pearls.
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GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you have a group of people who are have the interest and ability to nurture your best ideas?
2. Do you know someone who could use a dose of encouragement and wisdom today?
FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 11:14; Matthew 19:26
Dan Johnson is the Lead Pastor of Next Church in Tacoma, Washington and CEO of the Next Leadership Association
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