Prominence vs Significance

“Not everyone is prominent, but everyone is significant”

As much as life is unpredictable, it is equally an adventure – if u choose to look at it that way. This means every moment of every day is cherished, lived to the full. Yet it is not just about living for ourselves, but to also make a difference in other people’s lives.  With end of July being the conclusion of a significant month of celebrating Mandela day and encouraging society to do more for the less fortunate in his honour, it is humbling that only one man can have such a huge impact on a lot of people. When we look at this closely, what really does it take for someone to have such an influence? This is not just any influence, but a positive influence for people to make a difference in other people’s lives.

Is it something that each of us can achieve through our own lives? What really sets him apart from the rest of us, that we honour him so much and dedicate our philanthropic actions to him? He lives just like each of us. He has blood flowing through his veins, goes through human challenges like each of us, yet he has managed to rally such an enormous following of people who are ready to make a difference in society to honour of his name. The truth is that, even though we appreciate such inspiration and should treasure it, every minute of every day is an opportunity for us be the difference. On my trip back from Australia recently I was sitting next to a pastor who said this: “each individual is a full time minister”. I thought this is profound and I am challenged as I believe I have not done enough to contribute to changing lives. In every area of our lives, I believe we each have every opportunity to minister through our life, our actions wherever we are – whether it’s at work, at home, amongst friends, business associates, the till lady at the grocery store, car guard etc. In every moment we have a choice to be significant without necessarily being prominent.

Now Mandela may be prominent in that he is known all over the world, but what strikes me the most about his life is that he has also been significant. Significance doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to be famous/prominent, but it is about making a positive contribution to changing the lives of the people around us for the better. It is linked to our talents and strengths that can be used to benefit other people and up lift other people. It is linked to our purpose. If prominence comes with it, then it should be by default rather than be the goal for helping people. I am challenged to step up my game in being a useful member of my community, making a significant contribution. As Mark Conner once said, “not everyone is prominent, but everyone is significant.”  Which will you choose today?

Tithe yourself

“We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right” Nelson Mandela

With Mandela’s birthday on the horizon, I would like to believe it is the most celebrated birthday in South Africa’s history; probably even the world over. In the past few years, the Mandela Foundation has beckoned a call to all South Africans to give of their time to help the less fortunate in honour of Mandela. This programme has grown over the years and is now known as Mandela Day. So every year, many individuals and companies look out for charities and other opportunities where they can give of their time in honour of uTata and what he stands for. If you think about the principle of tithing, this is really what it is, in a different format. This time around, everyone is asked to tithe themselves and their time.  What does it really mean to tithe people? It has been said that we should live our lives as worship to God. Translated, this means that everything about our lives should be glorifying to God. It means that as we reach out and shine His light in the world, other people’s lives are changed for the better.

In some instances it may seem like what we are doing is not even equal to a drop in the ocean given so much need, but we must never underestimate the power of anything good that we do. We must never underestimate how God can take that little we have in our hands and multiply it to meet the need of the people we are reaching out to – just as He did with the five loaves and two fish. Mandela once said “for to be free isn’t merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” He also said, “As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same.” Think back to a time when someone came through for you in your time of need. How can that not encourage you to also be there for someone else when they are in need? Our lives should be a light that shines for others to see God in it. Our lives should be not just about what we want for ourselves, but about bringing meaning and purpose in both our lives and those of others. There is a lot of need out there, are you ready to tithe yourself with whatever you can today?  

Note: I first heard of the principle of tithing oneself from a dear friend, Tseliso. Thanks my friend for the encouragement, keep it real!