I am routinely reminded that this life has so many options and opportunities. Whether it is what to buy, where to go, or who to relate to and spend time with, we have so many choices in our day-to-day life.
In reflecting on my opportunities, I am challenged to consider the three words: good, better and best when it comes to options of time and resources. This question is an important one for our ministry work around the globe. It is also a great question to consider when it comes to your donations as well.
There are many “good” things that you and I can support, but there are few best opportunities. Here are a few of the characteristics that I look at with my personal opportunities.
Are the options providing band-aids or fishermen? That sounds strange, but I think we tend to jump to the options of immediate needs without thinking through whether this is really impacting the long-term here on earth and the eternal into heaven.
Another question I ask myself is “do I involve myself in things that are proactive versus reactive? Am I helping to put a band-aid on something 
in reaction to a symptom or am I focused on healing the disease?”
In our mission at GYMN, we tend to focus on the proactive versus the reactive. We focus on reaching and developing young people’s hearts so that the external “issues” are less prevalent. One way we do this well is to develop leaders who create more leaders. We do not provide leaders a fish, we teach them how to fish.
When our lives are through, I believe Christ will ask if we indeed were a part of “Going to make disciples of all the nations”? This does not mean we ignore those in need, but we invest proportionally so as to be more proactive versus reactive. I want to invest in something that carries on beyond me, not just something that will only provide a band-aid and need more band-aids going forward. In your life are there things that are good, but need to be set aside for the best? I am not willing to settle for good when best is within my reach. Are you?
(to see how to invest in the eternal life of youth through trained leaders see: http://gymnintl.wordpress.com/support-us/ )
