Change your world in 2010
In his book Free of Charge, author Miroslav Volf shares a brilliant parable from Europe about two brothers, one who is rich and one who is poor. Toiling in the fields all day long, the poor brother spends his time growing turnips. One day he grew a turnip so big it took a cart to move it. Seeing the vegetable for how unique it was, the brother knew he could not sell or eat such a treasure, for indeed it was fit only for a king. Thus, he took it to the king who stared at the extraordinary object in wonder, proclaiming how lucky the farmer was to possess such a grand vegetable. The poor man replied, “No, I am poor and toil all day long. I have nothing and will be forgotten by all.” The king was so impressed by the generous gift the poor farmer brought that he bestowed gold and land upon him, sending him away wealthy and filled with hope.
When the rich brother heard what his poor brother got for a turnip, he too decided to bring a gift to the king, anxiously anticipating how he would be rewarded. So he brought the king gold and horses. The fairy tale continues, “The king took the present, saying that he could give nothing rarer or better in return than the huge turnip. So the rich brother put his poor brother’s turnip into a cart to have it taken home.”
The story tells us about a conniving brother who ends up with a more or less worthless object because his motivation was greed. The selfless brother on the other hand was rewarded far beyond his dreams. In this fable we are asked us to consider why we do what we do.
John Bevere says spiritually there are two groups of people; those who seek God for what he can do for them and those who seek him for who he is. The same could be said for all our relationships. Is our motive to build others up because we care for them, or because we are driven by what we imagine we can gain? One motive is selfish and one is selfless.
It is estimated that we impact 10,000 people in our lifetime, roughly four per day. While many of those interactions will have little significance, it is clear that we have an opportunity to touch many lives for the better.
Let me close by sharing three important questions C. Peter Wagner asks that can radically alter how you see the world around you and the part you play in it. As you see things in your life, relationships, community and beyond that are not the way they could be, start by asking what is wrong? Be as specific as you can, notice things that perhaps you hadn’t seen before.
Second, ask how did it get this way? What part has been played by individuals, by circumstances or by you? Look back over the past several months, and then consider the past five years, then ten. Perhaps the changes were gradual, maybe they were abrupt. Take time to really dig into the history. For instance, in his book Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, T. Harv Eker relates a time in his marriage when he and his wife constantly fought about their finances. They only understood why when they realized that many of their beliefs about money were shaped by their upbringing. She had learned to spend it all in an unhealthy manner, where he had learned to hoard it all in just as unhealthy a manner. Only when they understood how their beliefs were made did they find healing in this area of their marriage.
Lastly, ask what can be done about it? Be creative here, brainstorming options about how you can personally make a difference. Perhaps it is a phone call that you need to make or a class that you should enroll in that you have been putting off. Maybe an apology is long over due, or you have a special skill that is desperately needed for a time such as this.
Perhaps above all, may you find in these questions and in the coming year that for much of your world, the answer lies with you. So don’t be afraid to offer those around you an extraordinary gift, be it a massive turnip or simply a helping hand.
About the Author
I am a former pastor who is now a full time writer. My new book is available at twominutesermon.com and is titled, "The Life That is Really Life: How Biblical Truth Can Transform Your Spiritual,Emotional,Physical and Relational Health." I have an online ministry to people looking for authentic personal and spiritual growth and passionate relationships, and also a special outreach for burned out and hurting pastors and those in need of counseling in times of conflict. twominutesermon.com
How to Draw : How to Draw a Fairy
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