In Pursuit of Valuable Connections
My daughter loves a new twist on an old game we bought her at Christmas: Connect 4 Launchers. In both the original and the new version of Connect the object is simple but not always easy to do: to connect four colored markers in a row.
In this game it is important to make the correct connections to win. If you aren’t careful about where you drop (or shoot) your markers, you can run out without accomplishing your winning goal.
The same can be said for how we live our lives. If we are not careful about how and where we invest our time and energy, we may run out before reaching our goal. It all boils down to the relationships we pursue.
Our number 1 connection should be with the Lord, next our spouse, then children, and finally friends and neighbors (which is essentially everyone). However, the substance of those connections vary, and with limited time, we must be wise in allocating.
Most of us work on the first few relationships daily; the others can be more difficult and, in some cases, confusing. Although we are to share the Gospel with everyone, it is not always possible nor healthy to connect on a deeper level with certain people.
Michael Hyatt in his thought-provoking post, Are You Investing Your Best Resources in the Wrong People?, suggests that we often throw our best at the wrong people. We need to be discerning in who we interact with on a regular basis. As Mr. Hyatt points out, Jesus ministered to many, but only spent large amounts of time with a select few (namely, His disciples).
That leads me to question: Who am I spending most of my resources on? Are they the correct people? Am I investing in the best outlets?
As I work on reaching a wider audience with my message of celebrating life in its entirety, am I pursuing the best connections or am I wasting my limited resources on dead-ends and energy drainers?
This balancing act is a daily occurence for publishers as well. Each company has a limited amount of resources to allocate. They must discern which project is most worthy of receiving them.
You and I also have limited resources. We can’t minister to everyone.
Ask yourself, “Am I purusing the most valuable connections to edify others, to be encouraged myself, to be the most effective in my ministry?”
Opportunities are endless, but we have limitations.
And the choice is ours to make. We can allocate our resources carefully and prayerfully, significantly increasing our effectiveness and influence, or we can connect haphazardly, leaving ourselves drained and ineffective.
Share in the Discussion: How can you re-allocate to more effectively leverage your gifts?
“‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is helpful. ‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything builds up” (1 Corinthians 10:23 HCSB).
Linking with Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday with the prompt “Connect.”
By His Grace,
Julie
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Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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This is very true and excellent, Julie!! Thank you for this important reminder!
Thanks, Rachel.
Fabulous post.
Thanks, Denise. Blessings.
Great post – so jealous that you wrote so much and so eloquently in 5 minutes!
Blessings,
Felecia
Thank you for your sweet words, Felecia, but don’t be jealous. I’ve never hidden the fact that I rarely write a Five-Minute Friday post in 5 minutes–usually it is 10 or 15 minutes (I am an editor after all!). It is the process of pouring out my thoughts with little-to-no revision that I appreciate about the challenge of this link-up. We each have a story to share–and they can be impactful with few words or many. Open your heart and pour it out!
Julie, this is a really great reminder. Thank you so much for sharing. I think often we can pour out too much energy on the wrong people because we want to please those people rather than pouring our energy out for the people that God has put right in front of us to love & minister to. Your words are so encouraging, friend!
Yes, Jen! It is so tempting to go for pleasing others over being obedient to the Lord. You are an encouragement to me. Wish I could have tea with some of my She Speaks friends like you. Have a blessed weekend.
Okay Julie, this is another writing that is just what I needed. I’m printing it out. So, will you please start your book? I think I need to go back and print out all your writings! Thank you and Blessings!!
One book is already started, Sue. I’ll let you read a couple chapters when we get together. Your love and support is so motivating to me. Love you.
This is the struggle I feel: “You and I also have limited resources. We can’t minister to everyone.” I *want* to do every single possible thing I can, but what I *can* (or want) to do is different from what I am *able* to do (mainly because of time, I think). Good thoughts here, Julie!
Yes, it is extremely difficult to see someone in need and not do something. We need to “do,” but we need to be wise in “what” we do and with “whom” we do it. Bless your caring heart.