Here’s how the story unfolds –
You are scrolling through your Facebook feed, reading some Scripture posts, laughing at some memes, watching a cat (not me – I cannot stand cats) video or three and out of nowhere you get a message from someone you went to High School with.
High School Buddy (HSB): “Hey, been a long time, what’s been happening?”
You: “Well I’m in my mid-30s now and I haven’t spoken to you since graduation night but not much has happened in the last decade and a half.”
HSB: “Yeah, I bet. So, I wanted to let you know about something I got involved with recently and I think you will be really interested in it.”
My friend, you are on the verge of getting Network Marketed.
That HSB is doing a pyramid style drive by and about to offer you the latest and greatest thing since sliced bread.
It will help you lose weight, feel great, grow more hair (which I’d actually be interested in a legit product for this – call me), cure acne, sleep better, add inches to your height, give you wings, help you sing better and if you sign up and become an Ambassador, you will be sailing on your yacht to your own a private island in the next 12-18 months.
Sound kinda familiar?
It’s happening – EVERYDAY
Now, since I have already made a couple of you mad, let me go ahead and say a few things to help clarify.
- There are definitely some legit ways to make additional money – including Network Marketing.
- If you have ever sent me an invite for something along those lines – I’m not mad at you – you are doing what you need to do to try to be successful.
- I work a full-time job (in addition to being a full-time Pastor) so I understand the need and desire to make additional income – life can be expensive.
Are we friends again?
I hope so.
This post is less about Network Marketing or Side Hustles (which I kinda like that term) and more about priorities.
I know people that are involved in Network Marketing that will talk to EVERYONE about it – including those ancient High School friends.
They will invite EVERYONE over to their homes to tell them about this great, life-changing opportunity.
They will work with EVERYONE on their team to increase sales, follow up, add new members, anything that will help their group grow.
That’s exactly what you need to do if you want to be successful in Network Marketing and many of those traits are very admirable.
However, my problem arises when church folks will work EVERY possible angle to make those dollar bills but do not come close to having the same level of commitment to church.
If you will do that for your temporal kingdom and refuse to work hard for His eternal Kingdom, your priorities are out-of-whack.
Think about it –
- When was the last time you felt so compelled to reach people that you could not pass by them without mentioning a life-changing (and beyond) opportunity?
- When was the last time you invited someone over to your home for dinner and a Bible Study?
- When was the last time you followed up with someone who has not been to church in awhile?
I’m not mad if you are trying to better your life.
Go to school.
Start a business.
Work hard and be successful.
But I do not want (and I do think you want to either) to stand before God one day and have to answer for focusing on my needs, desires or wants more than His.
See one of the biggest lies the devil wants people to believe is they have all the time in the world.
“Focus on you right now, you have plenty of time to focus on other stuff.”
Unfortunately, that day to focus on the things that REALLY matter, never seems to come and many people go through life without ever fully committing to the cause of Christ.
Each of us come across folks everyday that are hurting and they need someone to introduce them to Jesus and we are commanded to do so.
I want to reach everyone I can before it’s too late and to do that our priorities have to be right.
So have some fun, make some money but make sure that nothing else takes the place of your relationship with God and trying to help someone else make heaven their home too.
In His Service,
Jarryd Raynes – Senior Pastor
Upper Room Church