Favor With KingsSample

Abstain

Practice saying no. Abstaining is part of the training.

You don’t have to say no to everything, but you’ll want to say no to some things. It’s a discipline that will keep you healthy. All in moderation. Any excessive indulgence is dangerous. So don’t allow it. Decide now that you’ll say no at least as often as you say yes.

The next time you are offered a vacation, first-class flight, large bonus, vehicle upgrade, etc., enjoy it. Appreciate it. But make the decision in that moment that you’ll forgo something else. Look immediately at something else you can release and pass it through. Leverage a perk you could justify for yourself to bless someone who works with you.

Receive, release, and pass through.

If you need fruit in your greenroom, ask for fruit in your greenroom. But be grateful for it. Don’t let success create a gap between you and other people. Bridge the gap by passing on blessings.

How could you make someone’s day, week, month? What modest bonus for you would make a meaningful difference for someone else?

Release and pass through.

Even though you can, it doesn’t mean you should. Keep the long game in mind, and make sure that the work continues to serve the whole—and not just you. This is the key to being successful and keeping your soul.

Jesus said, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”

His point is that there’s a bigger story than just wealth and worldly possessions. There’s something else happening here. There’s a bigger mission. And you’re part of it.

Look beyond the perks, and keep your eyes on the Provider.

Nehemiah was intentional about saying no in two more ways:

1. I’m not better. He knew that he was not better than the people he served as governor. He didn’t inflate or elevate his status in his own mind. He came to serve the people, and he would continue to serve the people. Position wasn’t important to him. Status didn’t drive him. And the perks of leadership wouldn’t derail him. Nehemiah was crystal clear: “I’m not better than them. We’re all the same.’”

2. I’m not bitter. Nehemiah also refused to allow himself to become bitter. Keep in mind, he had left a comfortable position working directly for the king of Persia. He had favor with the king. There were plenty of perks in the Persian palace. Nehemiah gave up a great deal in order to sweat his face off working on the wall of Jerusalem. And it wasn’t just about the wall. It was about the people, community, reformation, and a better future. But did the people appreciate that? Did they appreciate him?

That’s never the point.

No one likes a martyr with a crappy attitude. It takes the sizzle out of the story when the hero is resentful of his sacrifice. But that wasn’t the case with Nehemiah. His confidence was in God: “Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.”

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