Confession: I have a strange, almost creepy, habit of watching successful people. What do they do? How do they do it? What’s the ‘special ingredient’ that makes them successful? I think I’ve pinpointed one of those ‘special ingredients’ and will share it with you now.
Are you ready?
Millionaires make their beds!
How could I possibly know that? I don’t, really. My only evidence is from the ‘reality’ TV show The Secret Millionaire. In case you haven’t seen an episode I will recap:
A million- or billionaire goes “undercover” with a camera crew into some of the toughest, roughest, poorest places in America. How do they explain the camera crew? Their cover story is that they are doing a documentary on volunteering. Their objective is to find a handful of volunteer organizations in the community to serve alongside for a week. At the end of the week they reveal their true identity as a millionaire, and donate oodles of money to the organizations that are doing great things to help the community. Pretty cool, really. While the millionaires are visiting and volunteering in an area they also must live on the standard weekly income for that area, in an apartment in that area, driving a car in the condition of other cars in that area. These wealthy people find out what it is like to live in some pretty frightening places, driving clunkers, and living on $30-50 for the week.
Something else caught my attention watching these episodes. Something that Every.Single.Millionaire.Did. They made the bed every morning.
I don’t know why I noticed. I don’t know why I’ve been thinking about it all week. But I have. And here’s the point (because, yes, I do have a point!).
So many people want to be “there” or have “that” but they haven’t done anything with “this.”
This Day ~ This Time ~ This Money ~ This Opportunity ~ This Relationship
I think we have an illusion (or delusion?) that successful people do not work hard, or have to “make the bed” each day, and if we could just “make it” to “that” place, life would be easier. In this reality TV show, I marveled as each and every millionaire made the bed each day. Sure, maybe it was because the camera crew was there. But I think that this is a clue to our “special ingredient.” The very “secret sauce” we are looking for!
F-A-I-T-H-F-U-L-N-E-S-S
Jesus tells the story of a man who is leaving town on business. He rounded up three of his employees to manage the business while he was gone, entrusting his property to them. The man gave stewardship over the business, “each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” Each of the men had a choice. Two of the men took what was entrusted to them, and were faithful, causing what they were in charge of to increase. One man, out of fear, buried what he was entrusted with, and nothing changed. Nothing. Changed.
When the business owner returned he praised and rewarded the men who had been faithful, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” [see Matthew 25:14-30, NIV]
Day in and day out, if we are to be successful at what God has given us to do we must adopt a ‘make the bed’ attitude. Whatever the bed. However small. However lumpy, bumpy, dingy, or unglamorous that bed – make it! Be faithful wherever you are, with whatever you have, to do the best you can! Then, when you are given a bigger, more comfortable bed to make, you’ll already be in the habit of and prepared for the responsibility of making “that” bed. The “there” and “that” that we desire is a privilege, and always requires more responsibility on our part!
We are called upon not to be successful, but to be faithful. ~ Mother Teresa
Be thankful today for what you do have. Be faithful with what you have been given: your job, your family, your single-ness, your business, your home, your friends… The areas we are faithful in, no matter how small, will grow and increase!
What are areas God has shown you how to be faithful ‘in the little things’ of your life?
Thanks for reading, I really do love all of your comments! Now, I’d better go make my bed!! 😉
