Take the Lead and Deposit a Seed - Adding Value to Others!

Current mood: determined
Category: Life

Making Deposits by Adding Value to Others

Here's a factoid: 80 % our waking life will be lived outside of your home... that's the "marketplace" (i.e. grocery store, office, school, job site, etc.). Of 132 public appearances that Jesus made, 122 were in the marketplace...that's right, not church.

Listen, I'm "Pro-Church" as it relates to equipping the saints to "do something" i.e. the work of ministry. However, that's on Wed's and Sun's, the rest of our lives are lived out in the marketplace... you know, where people really live.

In Romans 12:10, Paul states, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." NIV

A marketplace term coined by John Maxwell for this principle is "Adding Value." We are to "Take the lead and deposit a seed" by "adding value" to everyone we meet.

Here are some steps to Adding Value to others:

1. Value People - Every person is a soul for whom Christ died and has intrinsic value because they were created in the "Imago De" (image of God). They have value because God values them, not because we assign them a particular value. (see Rm 12:10)

2. Know and relate to what they value - To do this you must be willing to become what Tim Sanders calls a "deep and powerless" listener. We must learn to value what others value. (see Mk 12:29-31)

3. Make yourself more valuable - You increase your value by valuing others over yourself. Help others to succeed and prosper and you will add value to yourself. Don't keep what you're learning to yourself, share resources, skills and insights with others to help them along. (see Gal 5:13-14)

4. Do the things that God values - Honor authority (oh yeah, you're boss!) bear the burdens and carry the armor of those around you. Serve them selflessly. (see Gal 6:2)

Success is when I add value to myself. Significance is when I add value to others. Whatever seeds you sow into the lives of others will come back to you in a harvest. You can't lose! It's a win-win deal!

Toolbox: Here's a couple of good resources I would recommend if you want to learn how to integrate your faith in the workplace by "leaking out not freaking out."

1. The 360 Degree Leader by John C. Maxwell
2. Website: www.lifeatwork.com

Blessings to each of you as we learn how to take our Faith outside of our churches and truly become influencers and catalysts in our world!

Blessings,
Pastor J

PS If you're interested in hearing this message as taught at my church then check out our website at www.morningstarabilene.com and click on "listen to messages." It should be up by Tues the 16th