Peace and Prosperity

Growth in my business is something I have desired since I first began my business nine years ago. After eight years in business, I had grown to a whopping three weekly bookkeeping clients. Last summer, I sat down with one of them and carefully explained that I wouldn’t be able to continue doing their books. They were too disorganized, and it was too stressful for me.

There is, I realize, a type of pride that would never have admitted that. Not what we think of as a haughty pride, but more of a determined, I can and I will do this sort of pride. The self–reliant sort of pride.

Don’t kid yourself, it wasn’t an easy conversation to have–not because I was so determined to prove myself, but because when you desire growth, downsizing is a hard thing to swallow. But I knew that there are things in life–particularly peace–that are more important than money. Money is not adequate compensation for some kinds of stress.

It’s been less than one year, and the Lord has given me three additional clients.

I can say that there is no telling where the Lord will take me . because I can’t rely on myself–I have to rely on Him. Sure, I’m confident in what I know and what I can do, but I’m also very well aware that it has been nine months since I’ve been anywhere near caught up. I’m equally aware that I’ve remembered to file some paperwork only on the day it was due. It’s only by the grace of God that my clients haven’t gotten stuck with penalties on this or that.

Mind you, I do my best, but I also know that my best is not relative to my desires. In other words, my level best will never be sufficient to earn what I want in life. So I throw myself on God’s grace, and ask Him for all the great stuff He has. Quite well aware, as I do so, that I can never even live up to all the good stuff He has done and will do for me.

How does that sound to you?

When Jesus healed ten lepers, he was not looking for payment. He was satisfied with heart–felt thanks. Think back to the last time someone did something for you. Did you feel–from yourself, not from the other person–that you had to do something to repay them? Or were you content to be grateful?

Gratitude is a pride–buster, you see. Gratitude rescues me from the pride of "you owe it to me" and also the pride of "I owe it to you." Humility is willing to accept more than it can ever pay for, from the hand of someone who has more than enough. It is the doorway to peace, and at the same time, the doorway to prosperity–to more than enough.

Humility then becomes the generous hand that opens to someone else in need.

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