expensive conference fee.
The woman managed to get within a few feet of the Leader when one of the Leader’s team
members noticed the woman did not have a conference name badge, the proper security
identification. He then questioned her about it. Realizing she was in trouble and her chances of
speaking with the Leader were suddenly slim, the woman quickly shouted out the Leader’s
name. He was less than ten feet from her, so he turned and looked at her. She immediately cried
out with a concerned voice, “Leader, help me please. My business is failing. My husband is an
invalid due to a previous work accident, and no one is helping us.” The Leader turned away and
continued talking to the people in his inner circle.
The woman continued shouting, “Leader, I am certain we have the right product, and we need
your help to market and deliver it!” At that outburst, someone called security and one of the Leader’s assistants grabbed the woman to silence her. This resulted in her shouting even louder. “Leader, please, please, I know you can help me! I brought my business plan, the by-laws, balance sheet, my PL statement, cash flow sheet and some customer reviews!” The Leader paused from his conversation and looked at the woman and said, “Madam, I am here to serve my clients, the members of this conference. They have paid their fees. Sorry, you are not a member.”
Now what would the woman do at this point?
What would you do?
What would security do?
What would the Leader’s assistants do? (Likely throw her out.)
As security and the Leader’s assistants began to push her toward the door, the woman broke
away, sprinted over to the Leader, fell at his feet and begged, “Leader please, I beg of you, I know you can help me, please help me!” To which the Leader replies, “Woman, it isn’t right to take the ideas and strategies which I have so diligently worked to master and teach to others, and give them away to deadbeats and cheapskates, to vagrants and bums who do not pay.”
Stop again. Now at this point, how do you think the woman feels? No one person in this crowd of 20 to 30 people is supporting her or encouraging her. Not one. Security has her in their grasp, and they are lifting her to her feet, starting to move her away. How does she feel? What would you do if you were she?
Then while being dragged away, she faced the Leader and cried out, “Yes Leader, you are right,
but even the vagrants and bums eat the crumbs, the garbage that is tossed out of the homes of the rich.” At those words, the Leader stopped, and looked directly at the woman. The Leader (whose name, by the way, is Jesus) said to the woman, “Your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.”
You may read another version of this story in Matthew 15:21-28.
Perseverance and believing your idea is His idea is essential to succeeding in B4T. Many of us have been down to our last dollar. We’ve sold everything causing our families to suffer, yet we
kept believing. We worked even harder. And then, in His grace, Jesus answered our prayers for our businesses.
Do you believe your job, your business, is Jesus’ idea? Are you willing to give it your all – and put everything into it? Then keep working. Keep moving forward. And keep begging for His
blessing.
PATRICK LAI and his family have worked in SE Asia for other 37 years. His experience in doing business with Jesus has brought him to understand the meaning of work and worship in the marketplace. He started 14 businesses in four countries, six of which are still operating. Patrick and his wife, May, mentor and coach businesspeople working where there are few or no Christians. Check out Patrick’s latest book, Workship, now available in paperback and e-book.