Growing up poor, money fascinated me. It was growing up poor that helped me to know that nowhere is the love of money greater than among those that don’t have it! I grew up not having it.
Living a life mired in lack filled me with a lot of questions. How do people get money? How do people keep money? How do people give money away?
I always rooted for and wanted to help the underdog, so I became a pastor. Living as a financially poor pastor, I learned that one of the worst strategies for helping the poor is to be poor!
Being financially poor robbed me of opportunity to make a difference.
Yep. Early on, I learned that not much good happens in this world without the money to make it happen. I remember wondering why some leaders seemed to have all the money their organizations needed. I wondered why some leaders, LIKE ME, seemed to never have the money they needed.
Actually, what I remember most, is the depression that hounded me because I never had the confidence or resources I needed.
We have heard that biblical maxim the love of money is the root of all evil. But, I am also struck by the power of Mark Twain's proverb the lack of money is the root of all evil!
As a teen, I studied the proverbs of “the smartest man in the world.” He talks a lot about money. A lot! In one of his more well-known sayings, he compares chasing money to chasing birds.
“Don’t exhaust yourself acquiring wealth; be smart enough to stop. When you fix your gaze on it, it’s gone, for it sprouts wings for itself and flies to the sky like an eagle.” Proverbs of Solomon, 23:4-5
Solomon says that chasing money is like chasing birds.
Like birds, money has wings. The more you chase it, the more it flies away!
There is a lesson here for fundraisers and people who love and chase money.
As a child, I remember being told that if I could get close enough to put salt on a bird's tail I could catch it. It took me a while to figure that out!
YOU DON’T CHASE BIRDS; YOU ATTRACT THEM.
LIKEWISE, YOU DON’T CHASE MONEY; YOU ATTRACT IT.
The more you chase money, the more elusive it becomes. Selah, pause and think about that.
So, how do we attract money? We attract money by addressing injustices, solving overlooked problems, meeting tough needs, and seizing opportunities. The hopeful future we create in our followers’ minds through our service is called VISION.
PASTORS, MISSIONARIES, AND NONPROFIT LEADERS ATTRACT RESOURCES WITH A COMPELLING VISION.
For fundraisers, I believe that the lack of vision is the root of all evil!
A vision is what the world would look like IF what you are doing FIXES THE PROBLEM.
A vision is what the world would look like WHEN the injustice you are addressing NO LONGER EXISTS.
A vision is a picture of the future you are trying to create and what life will be like when you get there.
The biggest problem I see among nonprofit leaders.
They think what they do is their vision: NOT.
Our vision is to feed the hungry.
Our vision is to serve minorities.
Our vision is to house the homeless.
LESSON TO LEARN: YOUR VISION IS NOT WHAT YOU DO.
YOUR VISION IS WHAT THE WORLD WILL LOOK LIKE IF WHAT YOU DO WORKS!
Your MISSION might be to feed the hungry but your VISION is a world where malnutrition doesn’t exist.
Your MISSION might be to serve minorities, but your VISION is a world where minorities never know discrimination.
Your MISSION might be to house the homeless, but your VISION is a world where homelessness doesn’t exist.
Why does that matter? BECAUSE VISIONARIES RULE THE WORLD!
Visionaries always get the money they need.
Visionaries always ATTRACT the resources needed.
Visionaries ALWAYS get more money than missionaries (read more here).
Remember Solomon’s wisdom: You don’t chase birds; you attract them. You don’t chase money; you attract it.
Nonprofit leaders, pastors and missionaries attract money with a compelling vision.
I have my own proverb now: FOR FUNDRAISERS THE LACK OF VISION IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL! Need help crafting and casting a compelling vision? To help nonprofit leaders, pastors and missionaries craft a compelling vision I created a free resource A Boring Vision, The Biggest Thing That Will Keep You From Becoming Your Donor’s Favorite Charity. I created it with you in mind, and, ITS FREE!
FREE DOWNLOAD: The Biggest Thing That Will Keep You From Becoming Your Donors Favorite Charity: CLICK HERE Nothing would make me happier than for you to become a visionary that NEVER lacks for the resources you need!
David
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