Lance Wallnau

The Holy Spirit Works With You, Not For You

THE 100 MILLION DOLLAR DISTINCTION

PeopleI hung out with a hundred million dollar business leader this weekend. He is also a recognized artist in his country. Brilliant man – and a Christian to boot. He told me that one of his frustrations is how many Christians perform like amateurs in business and don't want the tough, candid feedback they need to get things on track. They would rather “spiritualize” their situation and believe that somehow a prophetic timing or supernatural blessing will be released through their “giving”, first fruits, seed or offering and everything will be turned around. Most of the time it's not going to happen that way, and you know why?

Paul said in Ephesians 6:13 “… that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and HAVING DONE ALL, to stand.” If you haven't done ALL the things a smart business person does, your bottom line won't “stand.”

The difference between wannabe millionaires or wannabe entrepreneurs and real millionaire business people is this: the successful person has two habits unsuccessful people do not:

1.) Habit one: MAKING DECISIONS, not putting them off. And they make them based on…

2.) Habit two: A RUTHLESS COMMITMENT TO REALITY.“They look at what's happening and what's supposed to be happening that isn't, with very clear glasses. They want to know the facts and they want their team dealing with what's real.”

(For the record, I believe that sowing brings blessing, however, the farmer has to work his field if he wants a harvest. The Holy Spirit is “working with” you, not working “for” you. You can't make your financial offering a substitute for the wise “work” you are supposed to do.

“With all thy getting, GET WISDOM!” (Proverbs 4:7) 
“Get” implies you don't have it, and need to go find someone who does. Get a coach.

One of the great mischiefs of a Christian worldview is the ease with which we can fabricate a story to explain what isn't working. We are like miniature Spielbergs creating marvelous fictions to describe a spiritual rationale for what is or isn't happening in our lives. The top two terribly overused escapes from reality:

1.) “God is teaching me” something.
2.) “We hit a lot of warfare.” 

Now, I know first hand that bizarre and inexplicable things can start happening when the enemy does not want something to succeed, but 9 times out of 10 it's not warfare, it's a lack of experience (translated “wisdom”) that explains what went off track. 

WHAT ABOUT BETRAYAL?
Even betrayal ought to be reconsidered. Jesus knew who it was that would betray Him. 90% of the time we are shocked. I think the problem is that we lack discerning or clarity on what we need when we hire people. We see them as we are rather than as they are. In every case where I have been betrayed, I thought I had a friend where what I really had, was a friendly person wanting a bigger opportunity. If I made a mistake and this created an opportunity for them – they whacked me. In retrospect, I set myself up, every time.

Back to the main idea. Some people need to be kindly released to do work better aligned with their motivation and gifting. The longer you hold onto them, the worse your results – and the job that is ideal for them is NOT the one they are doing. Worse yet, the person who should be in that job is ROBBED of the opportunity because you won't open up the space!

If you are settling for less on your team because you are trying to be compassionate or kind, you are confusing kingdom priorities. In your family and marriage you have a commitment to others that is defined by social connection and obligation in a way that is different than a “voluntary association” of people in a business or other type of goal-oriented team… Including ministry teams. 

In the same way that you are not “married” to all employees, you are not able to fire a family member. I like the idea of a company being like a family, but there are important distinctions. 

The primary goal of a business is to make a profit. Making a profit by doing meaningful work that aligns with your gifts and calling is the ultimate goal I call “career convergence” but NO job will produce sustained convergence if there is no positive cash flow.

“Cash flow” is the oxygen of the business like “love” is the oxygen of romance.

Most of us forget that in Jesus' parables about talents and pounds, He rewarded RESULTS – not lessons learned. There was no sentimentality involved. There is a way of loving people and still requiring results. 

The best companies and richest business owners have tiny little boxes they put numbers in to measure where they are. They do it daily and weekly and monthly and quarterly and yearly. The amateur does not know what to measure and does not know what those numbers should be.

This is a subject that needs more room than a post but I think you get the idea.

P.S. I'm thankful for my team. They're wonderful. 

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