Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
One of the fallacies being spoken about by guru’s selling their services, is you can become anything you want. These charmers may persuasively convince you to purchase their seminar or videos if you truly want to succeed in life.
“Anyone can do it” is their typical sales presentation. You don’t need to listen to God and look at all the historical evidence. You are the exception. Just follow their plan and you will succeed.
Now what they say may be true for a few folks, but for the majority of us, they are only selling emotional utopia.
The few who may benefit from their program probably would become successful without their services. For they most likely have the DNA code with natural gifting which they only have to build a skill set around and practice until they become proficient to achieve their goal.
For example, how many people do you know can throw a 100-mph fastball at a target some 90 feet away? How many of us can throw a football 50 yards in a straight line at a moving target and hit it 9 out of 10 times? (and add a 400-pound wrestler in your face who is about to devour you for lunch at the same time). I don’t know too many who excel at that kind of work. Which is why only a few people are either pitchers or quarterbacks in professional sports.
The trap is thinking you can become successful in a professional field where you have no natural talent, bias character flaws, and an unhealthy work ethic. There is no shortcut to long-term lasting success.
Those who are the best in their career became so through hard work, self-discipline, and building a skill-set upon their natural inherent talent. And even they may fail to achieve their goal if the field is limited and there are others whose skills are more highly developed or surrounded by people who support them rather than you.
But just because your mother kept encouraging you to sing doesn’t mean you have the voice and talent to make a living at it. Or because your father kept pushing you in sports doesn’t mean you have the attributes to excel at the professional level. Competition brings out the best and worst of us all.
For example, when I had surgery a number of years ago, I searched out the best doctors in their field and traveled outside this country for a specific operation. There were many good doctors in the states, but the best identified by their peers in a specific field based on solid evidential performance reviews were located in Canada at the time.
Just because you feel you can, doesn’t mean you are capable of producing at a professional level. There are many mediocre doctors who have their limitations and enough knowledge to satisfactorily serve their average patient. But in those unusual, unique situations, when it is you and you want the best in their field, you quickly identify them and hire them.
The best have crafted their skills and knowledge base. Their expertise shines above their peers. They have taken their God-given abilities and sharpen them for maximum output. They surround themselves with the best because they know their limitations and as iron sharpen iron, others help them sharpen their skills. Through trials, tests, and much practice, they gain confidence through proven results over time.
If you want to maximize your God-given natural abilities, discover what they are through tests, or trial and error, and receive true confirmation from those who really know you without bias. Then you can educate and train yourself to become one of the best in your field. And always make your choices built on the foundation of reality which may include your feelings along with God’s Word and solid evidence of historical proof from your life.
Otherwise, consider what you enjoy doing as a hobby to share with others. We all can’t become professional sport stars, but it is sure fun to play the game. Just know the difference where to invest your time, money, and energy for long term success and where the outcome really doesn’t matter.
So don’t fall into the trap of believing your feelings, dreams of ease, and polite words of illusions from those who don’t want to hurt your fragile ego. Whatever field you choose to become an expert, always remember who you serve and who you reflect and build your house on a solid foundation of reality.
Someone is always trying to sell you a shortcut to success. But long term, real success is primarily built on expertly serving others for their success, not yours. Take what God has given you and glorify HIM through your efforts in serving others as best as you can. Before you know it, you will be the expert others will recommend to their friends. And who knows, maybe one day you may even stand and serve before kings.
Rooting For You in Christ!
Dr. Mike
Encourager & Author of e-Books
- Stay Free…Avoid Worldly Traps
- Overflowing Prayers Rooted in Jesus Christ v1 & v2
- Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
- Great Business Emulates a Good God
- Be Radical…Follow Christ!
- Simply The Messenger
- Unequally Married
Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!
Radical In Christ 
Reblogged this on Encouraging-Grace and commented:
A good post by Dr. Mike which grounds our thinking in “what IS actually possible for me to become”