Home  Spirit/Ethics Giving before receiving
|
|
By K. Proctor
|
|
The power of building relationships by giving first.
I’ve owned my own business for a couple of years now and know the importance of making connections and being of value to others. That is a logical way to build a new business (tons of books propound this idea). And of course we have plenty of advice from Jesus who tells us to love and to give unconditionally.
But how easy is it to put into practice?
In theory it is easy to want to help others, but truly putting the interests of others before yours and offering help before being asked for help can be tricky. For example, as a new business owner you are dying to find clients, you are dying to find new opportunities to provide your service and of course, an income stream would be great too. Consider all that and then try and give first. It is certainly the way to go but can be tricky. It’s hard not to want to do what may yield the best for you and instead start by offering something of value and knowing that in return along the way good will come your way.
I recently finished the book The Little Black Book of Connections by Jeffrey Gitomer. In it he states: “Take a genuine interest in other people before you ask them to take a genuine interest in you.” In other parts of his book he states, “In order to build a solid connection, there must be a value connection exchanged. One-sided connections are short lived. Value-based connections are built to last. Do you always provide as much value as you expect to get?”
This is all so true. You have to offer first before you can expect something.
Living by this principle of giving first can be freeing. It frees you from the fear that you won’t have enough (money, clients, time, etc) because when you give, the spiritual law of gratitude and giving means God cares for each of us. Look at Jesus, what did he have? Just what he needed when he needed it – not tons of extra stuff he didn’t need to carry around. But when he needed food, it was there. When he needed housing he had that too. And that is the same law that provides for each of us.
Honestly, it can be hard at times to trust this much, to trust this spiritual law – but isn’t God more powerful than you? So surely, She has enough ability and resources to help even one of Her infinite number of creation (you). This is how I see it – clearly God can and will help because it is surely possible and in fact it is as enforceable as any law.
And this is how I come to understand the power of giving – and giving first – before asking for something. Read more from this blogger at Spirit and Entrepreneurship .
|
|
