Living a life of impact

Mark 2:1-4 is a story of 5 friends:

“When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.”

Now I don’t know about you, but I want friends like that!

Let’s back up and picture this…4 guys sitting around eating lunch together and one of them mentions a guy named Jesus who has been healing people. They talk about him a little and all of the sudden, between bites of their sandwiches, they realize that Jesus can heal their friend, who’s paralyzed! Being good friends, they begin to think how they can make it happen. They say a few things like, “He’ll be embarrassed”, “We can’t do anything”, or “Let’s just pray Jesus will stop by”. But they don’t stop there; they start planning & before long, they’re ready to go! They’ve got it all figured out so they pick him up & head over to see Jesus. This guy’s not light—it takes all 4 of them to carry him.

Then they get there. There are people everywhere and forget trying to get in the door, they can’t even see the door! At that point, they could have stopped, put down their friend and said, “Sorry, man, we tried.” And they did try. They gave 90%, more than what most friends would have done. Most people would have stopped at about 50%. If they stopped now they could pat themselves on the back and walk away feeling ok.

But to them it wasn’t enough. They were determined to put in the last 10%, to go beyond what was expected, to make a difference. They weren’t satisfied for their efforts to be good enough but not going the last 10%. So they picked their friend back up and moved their way through the crowd… “Excuse me, pardon me, comin’ through”…got to the house, worked their way up onto the roof, opened it up and with all the strength they could gather up, lowered their friend right down in front of Jesus.

And as we read, their friend was healed.

Jesus states in Matthew 7:12 what we know as “The Golden Rule”… “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you”, but I like the version of this in The Message even better… “Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.” Give the last 10%!

We are all really good at convincing ourselves we do enough, even when we stop short of what we know God is asking us to do. Sometimes we feel “stupid” or awkward. Often our own self-protection becomes more important than what we can do for someone else. “What will they think?” or “I’ll feel funny” become our first and preoccupying thoughts. Yet, we want the last 10% from others. We know when people give us the last 10% it changes everything.

Let’s make this practical. When you started dating your spouse, or for those of you who aren’t married, when you go on a date, do you put 90% forward and stop or do you push through the last 10%? You dress a little nicer, talk a little sweeter; guys might open the doors or even pick up the check. You throw in a few compliments or words of encouragement. You’re aware and intentional. You give the last 10%. Think what your marriage might look like if this had continued. Husbands still open the door; wives still get excited to fix a special dinner, or you send a cute, mushy, lovey card for no reason at all. You forgive a little quicker, are willing to work through tough decisions and hold hands as take time to go on a walk together.

With your friends you congratulate them and take them out for ice cream for the new job they just got, even if inside you want a new job yourself. You pick up the phone and call them, for the 10^th time, even though it seems they always say, “I was going to call you…”, or you send a card of encouragement through their struggles, even if they never think of doing it for you.

Do you have friends who could really use a date night out together without kids? Give them a gift card and offer to babysit. Do you have a friend who likes to talk a little too long because they’re a little too lonely? Instead of waiting until they call, making up excuses why you can’t talk, or hitting the ignore button, plan time in your schedule to just listen. Take flowers to a neighbor…just because. Text “just thinking of you this morning” to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. It’s not always easy and you may have to overcome fears and doubts, but push through it!

The last 10% in relationships is the difference maker. In Galatians 6:2, we’re called to “share each others’ burdens”, to go the extra mile, to push past the “norm” and as in Galatians 6:9, to “not get tired of doing what’s good.” It takes effort, it has to be intentional and it’s not what we’re used to.

Have you ever said, “I’ll pray for you”…and then not? “Let’s plan to get together” or “Let’s keep in touch”…and it never happens? Have you ever felt a nudge to give a friend a call or send a text or email, but felt weird or just ignored it? Or saw a mother struggling in the parking lot 2 lanes over, trying to juggle her groceries and young kids, but you walk away because you think, “She’ll be ok”?

Everyone can do 50%, most can do 70%, some even do 90%, but very few are willing to tackle the last 10%. Those are the people who make a difference. Remember, it’s the last 10% that matters. It’s the last 10% that changes lives. It’s the last 10% that takes us into living a life of impact.

Be creative, or be simple…just give the last 10%. It will have an impact! Living a life of impact takes effort and it’s intentional…and it is so very worth it. I challenge you to live that life (and yes, I’m working on it too!!)!

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