2 Timothy 4:5 .."Do The Work Of An Evangelist.."

Some things we just can’t agree on!

January 5, 2009 | Posted in Misc | 3 Comments

It Will Be Worth It!

January 3, 2009 | Posted in Soulwinning |

As I ponder over the year 2008, a few questions keep coming to my mind:

How much did I invest into the lives of others?

How did I prioritize my time?

What would I do differently?

As I attempt to answer these questions, in an effort to be more effective in 2009, I recall a story that I have used in many soul winning services. For the sake of your attention span, and my desire to have you back on this site for future visits, I will be short.

During Abraham Lincoln's presidency, the Secretary of State, William Seward, began negotiations with Russia in an effort to purchase a large piece of undeveloped ice that we refer to as Alaska.

Russia was in a financial crisis, and feared losing Alaska without adequate compensation. With that in mind, Alexander II, encouraged this decision, and after an all night meeting, the deal was done. The treaty was signed and on March 30, 1867, Alaska was transferred into the hands of America!

As wonderful as this sounds, this monumental decision was met with tremendous opposition on the home front. "Why would America want Alaska in the first place?" This decision would quickly be seen as the largest misappropriation of American funds, to date.

Horace Greeley, a writer for the New York Tribune, dedicated an extensive amount of time to this subject. In one of his infamous articles, he said, “Could it be that we would now, with open eyes, seek to add to our difficulties by increasing the number of such peoples under our national care?” Mr. Greeley argued that the territory was located in an inconvenient and dangerous place. Therefore, he reasoned that it was not advantageous for our nation to sink such finances, time and energy into such a wasteful and worthless piece of land.

In his final remarks, Mr. Greeley said, "Done as a deed in the night. This land contains nothing of value outside of a few animals that are nearly extinct. Outside of a few islands, Alaska isn't even worth accepting as a token or gift…much less an investment!"

As the bandwagon of critics grew ever-so-quickly, this infamous decision to purchase Alaska, soon became known as Seward's Folly.

I wish Mr. Seward could have lived to see the 21st century. I wish he could have been exonerated during his lifetime for his "seemingly" faulty investment. According to recent statistics, that worthless piece of ice, that frozen wilderness that was purchased for 7.2 million dollars… that piece of land that most saw as a waste… currently generates 7.2 million dollars each day!

Here's my point: Whatever we invest in reaching souls, it will be worth it! The time, the money, the energy, it will be worth it! When others don't understand our burden, and question our motives, we must realize that someday, it will be worth it! When we give of our finances to outreach and personalization, it will be worth it!