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Do you want to be well-connected?
I just wrapped up an event earlier for an art exhibit that my company hosted. All the great artists were there and so were their patrons. While I’m not the star of that show, I thought that I could just go and introduce myself (which was what exactly happened).
As expected, some people were cordial and some weren’t. But that’s ok. I was making connections. I thought that while I’m in this line of work now, I would make my own connections which I could then take advatange of later.
Then I realized that when I tried hard to do that, it just … well, it’s just hard. Not that I don’t think we shouldn’t go out of our way and greet people to make some connections but I realized the practical aspect of this verse:
A man’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great men. – Proverbs 18:16
All of us have a gift given to us by God to achieve a purpose. That gift already brings us before kings… before great men. We don’t really have to try so hard.
Just last weekend, I helped close a deal with a manager of big rock star for a concert we’re doing for church. (Few know that this rock star is a Christian.) I got to know the manager through a friend inside church and most of the negotiation was done through text. There was not much effort in that at all. Yet I seem to struggle with talking to people in this posh art exhibit where I’m part of the sponsors.
I realized that when I make connections for myself, I feel the pressure of making them simply because they’re for me. There’s not much great or tangible benefit. But when I focus on a greater purpose, the connections themselves come to me. The connections look for me. The connections make way for me. God’s gift brings me to great men.
Do you want to be well-connected to great men? It’s a great advantage, isn’t it? Then, don’t focus on making the connections. Focus on the purpose. Focus on your goal. Focus on the calling that God called you to do and the gift He gave inside of you will become so glaringly obvious and attractive to everyone that it will bring you before all great men.
