Let Your Light Shine
Written by Administrator Friday, 01 June 2007 13:29
Graduation is a special time in any life and at every level. It is a milestone that marks personal achievement … it is a stepping stone toward greater accomplishments. For the Christian, the education you have received and the skills you have learned are a trust, and you have the responsibility of making the most of the opportunities that these tools will bring into your life. But it’s not simply the education and skill that will make you successful or make a difference in the world. Instead, everything will hinge upon your attitudes and choices.
This hit home to me while reading Mark Sanborn’s book, The Fred Factor. (Great title, isn’t it? Though the book is not overtly Christian, I commend it as a great gift for graduates. Sanborn was one of the speakers at the Maximum Impact Simulcast that the Men’s Ministry hosted in May.) Sanborn first tells the unique story of his mailman, Fred. What an amazing character. And from Fred’s example, Sanborn discovered four principles that made that man’s life special.
Principle 1: Everyone Makes A Difference
Principle 2: Success Is Built On Relationships
Principle 3: You Must Continually Create Value For Others, And It Doesn’t Have To Cost A Penny
Principle 4: You Can Reinvent Yourself Regularly
The book has challenged and inspired me, especially the Principle 2 that success is built on relationships. And I encourage our graduates to take to heart what Mark Sanborn says are the “Seven B’s of Relationship Building.”
- Be Real. Don’t be a fake. (As we would say as believers, don’t be hypocritical.)
- Be Interested. This quote is terrific. “Interesting people attract attention, but I believe interested people attract appreciation” (p 46).
- Be A Better Listener. Let me say that again in case you weren’t listening. Be a better listener. Give people your undivided attention.
- Be Empathetic. That is, work at understanding how the people person feels. Two millennia ago, a wise man said, “Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a tough battle.” It’s still true.
- Be Honest. Keep your promises. Be as good as your word. Never fudge on the truth.
- Be Helpful. Little things do make a big difference, and helping people in “small” ways is the sign of a “great” person.
- Be Prompt. Time is something you only spend one time, and it is gone forever. Show your respect for others and their time by always being prompt.
But don’t do these things just so you can be successful. Do them in order to show the love, grace, wisdom, and power of God so that your example will also glorify the Lord Himself. As Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). -- Sparky