Morning Devotional

November  21, 2005
"Big"       
    by Don Emmitte

Home

Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody. (Galatians 6:1-3 NLT).

Perhaps you remember me talking about my new name given to me by my granddaughter, Faith. She has taken to calling me “Big.” None of us know how she came up with that particular name. I have never been called that before. I suppose that to her I am “big.” I’m not sure whether that will “stick” or not. If it does, that will be fine with me. Whatever they decide to call me will be an expression of affection that I will cherish. If it is “Big” I hope that I can live up to the name!

Michael Josephson of Character Counts talks about the difference between success and significance. He says, "The irony is that living a life focused on the pursuit of significance is so much more gratifying than one devoted to the treadmill of success. Whatever sacrifices are involved tend to enlarge rather than diminish personal satisfaction…. Quite simply, it feels good—really, really good—to be valued and valuable. So, people who pursue significance are concerned with making the most out of their lives. They help others not only for the sake of those they help but for their own sake. When we use our mental and material resources to make a positive difference in the lives of others, we are rewarded with a sense of satisfaction that's hard to get any other way. Success can produce pleasure, but only significance can generate fulfillment."¹

 

Sounds like good advice to me! The other night while watching a part of The Apprentice, Donald Trump said something that stuck with me. In his private helicopter flying above the skyline of New York, he pointed to the many pieces of property that he has owned or now owns and said to the winning team accompanying him, “This is what its like to have money.” I thought that was a very telling moment. To be sure he has proven himself a significant businessman. By most standards he would be judged a success. I wonder if he is “significant.” He may be. Those who truly know him can only make that judgment. I know that in my life, I want to be significant. I will know that I have achieved that when I have been the kind of man Paul describes in our reading today. We don't have to be famous to be significant. Every kind deed, kind word, thoughtful action, is significant. Added up over a lifetime in God's eyes they make a life both significant and truly successful. If I do that, I will be “Big.”

1.        Michael Josephson, "A Road Map to Significance," 324.2. Character Counts, www.charactercounts.org.