We all carry quiet desperation to find and fulfill God’s purpose for our life. God wrote it in our hearts, and we are generally willing to try or trust anything or anyone to get there. We have all bought or bought into things we hoped would lead us to our highest aspirations, often to be dropped off the wagon and left at the side of the road like unneeded baggage. We’ve all trusted people who promised something close to our destiny, only to learn that they were leading us into their dreams, not ours.
That all leads to a disappointment called “buyer’s remorse.” The deception behind the bad purchase is shared. The marketer just wanted a sale, not a sheep. And we were hoping for a Father who cared, not a hireling who didn’t. The point is that the aspirational emotion at the point-of-sale is so strong that neither the buyer nor the seller is focused on whether it (our dream) will work.
The Marketer – In the aftermath of “buyer’s remorse,” the marketer offers several excuses to justify his focus on the 99 and leaving you behind (while retaining the purchase price):
- If it didn’t work for you, you didn’t do the work (it works for everybody else!)
- I’m not responsible for other people’s decisions, results, or refunds; I’m responsible for sales
The “You” – the choice left for you is to give up on your dream and yourself, or start over, hoping you can find someone else that can understand your heart and help you make progress on your dream. Getting left behind really is a terrible feeling. Even more painful is that it doesn’t just happen in the marketplace. It happens in relationships, churches, and families as well. We all know the feeling and the fear of getting “dropped.”
Finding Some vs. Losing None – Marketers realize their product or service doesn’t work for everyone, and they want to find the few out of the hundreds or thousands that will buy and believe. They will still tell you it works for everyone, and they will still blame you if it doesn’t work for you; they might even believe it.
Jesus was also selling something – the gospel of the Kingdom. His goal was different – lose none! It feels different too. When a leader or a salesperson understands your heart, gives you something practical, and commits to service after the sale, IT WORKS!!! Every transaction requires a relational heart connection. People matter to God, they, and their success, should also matter to us.
Listen to the sound:
John 6:37 – All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. NASU
John 10:27-29 – My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. NASU
John 17:12 – While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. NASU
John 18:8-9 – “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” NIV
Leaders love people – So do good marketers, which is a big part of leadership. Leaders are selling people on the idea that they can reach the dream God wrote in their hearts – including their cashflow from Jehovah Jireh.
- “Love” in leadership translates to taking the time and interest to understand what God has written in another person’s heart… and then helping them reach their aspiration spiritually and practically. It communicates that “They matter.” They are more than a transaction to you.
- If I’m the leader, and I “sold” you something, I’m owning the responsibility for your success. I’m not dodging service-after-the-sale; Instead I’m guaranteeing your success. I’m not offering a worldly shark tank for the chosen few; I’m offering swimming lessons with a life-preserver.
Why does Jesus’ style of leadership work? – Good question! It’s because God wrote a plan in the heart of every person on earth. People come with their own guarantee of success in their metron. If we help them find their land and stay in their metron, they will be fruitful beyond expectations. It’s not the genius of my leadership or marketing; it’s a principle of the Kingdom – the way God wired all of us.
Rom. 12:3-4 – For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure (Metron) of faith God has given you. NIV
Will some people aim to high (pride)? Will others aim to low (no identity)? Of course! We make every mistake in the book, but grace abounds even more. People are fulfilling their books all the time. You and I can too! We can go a step further and help others experience their destiny.
Return on Intimacy (ROI) – Regardless of your station in life (leader, marketer, businessperson, etc.), help people discover what God has written in their heart, prophetically encourage them with words, and pull them into the practical side of their vocational destiny and cashflow. Here’s what happens: They will love you back. They know it’s not magic. They will own their share of the responsibility. They will not overburden you with their problems. But if you help and give them hope and a plan for their dream, they will pay you back with love and money. Loving and knowing the hearts of people is “overdelivering;” the most valuable part of every transaction; “the business of having fun!”
John 10:13-16 – The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. NKJV
Unlike beer, love doesn’t taste good when it’s cold. Switch from hireling to shepherd and lay down your life for people. You won’t regret it. If you “lose none” via your heart for people, “finding some” will be easy; people will find you!
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Cutting room floor
Aspirational Deception – Finding Some vs. Losing None
Latent Power of the Soul – Having a Filter, a BS Meter
Matt. 18:12-14 – “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. NIV
John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. NASU
John 10:27-29 – “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. NASU
John 17:12 – “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. NASU
John 18:8-9 – “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” NIV
At the core, we deceive ourselves because we don’t have enough psychological strength to admit the truth and deal with the consequences that will follow. Yet, understanding our self-deceptive nature is the most effective way to live a fulfilling life. For when we acknowledge who we really are, we have the opportunity to change… We lie to reflect our aspirational goals.
You can have whatever you dream? Victims wishing for entitled aspirations?
Change your mindset (gratitude, visualization) and your wishes will flow toward you (entitlement?)
“You can do anything you set your mind to” Face fears, Try harder, Take action
Home Run mentality
- Marketing promise that touches my aspiration
- + vulnerability to deception (fall down and worship mentor/aspiration)
Unfilled aspirations = suicide risk
(I have a quiet desperation to find and fulfill my life purpose = willing to try anything)
Matthew 4: 9 All these things I will give You, if You will fall down and worship me.
When self-image (aspirational identity) is too high (Stay in your lane)
Rom. 12:3-4 – For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure (Metron) of faith God has given you. NIV
Nothing shall be restrained h1219 (Bawtsar) to clip off, fence, wall… pruning grapes
Gen 11:4-9 – They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible (restrained, pruned) for them. 7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth. NASU
Jer. 5:31 – The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? NIV
Jer. 14:14-15 – Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. NIV
Jer. 23:25-27 – “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? NIV
Matt. 7:15-18 – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. NIV
2 Cor. 11:13-15 – For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. NIV
Matt 4:1-11 – Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
- Economics – Choosing between wealth and word (Return on intimacy)
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:” ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
- Religion – Limits of initiative, presumption, self
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'”
- Government – Power, fame, visibility
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. NIV
