Why Your Gift Makes Room For You

In Proverbs 18:16, it reads, "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men."  As I've heard this verse of scripture both preached and taught throughout my life, what I heard (and in some cases read) explained "a man's gift" here as an individual's innate ability to excel at various exploits.  The idea was that GOD has placed something special within you that is purposed to bring you before people of great influence and renown.  With that said, if you so desired to be great, you would then discover what gifts you possess and cultivate them to the extent that the excellence you embody when exercising them, in turn, becomes a platform upon which you can prosper.  It's a great concept that makes perfect sense!  If I may, however, allow me to share with you a little something extra I just learned regarding this...

As I researched the terms in this particular verse of scripture, I noticed that the word translated as "gift" in Proverbs 18:16 is the Hebrew word "mattan" (pronounced "mat-TAWN").  It means "a present".  In considering this information, the verse immediately took on a whole new meaning to me.  As I see it, when you aim to sit among people of greatness, it is the gift you bring that makes room for you to be in their company.  In other words, time is an extremely valuable resource; and influential people are in no way obligated to give their time to anyone, especially those who do not value it.  Their knowledge, wisdom, and feedback often comes at the expense of the failures, mistakes and setbacks they have experienced along life's way.  Out of respect for all it took for them to ascend from the bottom to their places among the top within their areas of influence, you just can't glean from them FOR NOTHING.

Now this is some serious, game-changing information!  Because I often hear, especially among people in ministry, that those whom GOD has blessed are REQUIRED to pour back into those coming behind them.  But WHO in their right mind wants to sow into thirsty leeches that could care less about valuing a leader and his/her journey to greatness, when all such people want is just enough information to run off and attempt to duplicate in record time someone else's greatness for themselves?  The lack of HONOR often bestowed upon people who have already been where others are trying to go is the reason why so many of the greats are passing away WITHOUT depositing the vast intellectual wealth they have amassed into the subsequent generations.

Please understand that the presentation of a quality gift signifies great respect for the recipient and expresses immense gratitude for the time the gift giver will, in turn, receive from great people.  Furthermore, when you develop a reputation for being a gift giver and the wind carries your name among influential leaders and their social circles, it becomes EASY to get appointments with individuals whose schedules upon which most find it HARD to get.  WHY?  Because the token of appreciation they already know you will respectfully bring underscores your promise to value the time they are willing to give you.  May this be a lesson for us all to become more conscious of ALL people's time, in general--not just the influential.  And when we do require significant amounts of people's time--which, for me, can be as little as 15 minutes of their undivided attention--endeavor to present them something meaningful to show gratitude and respect for giving up pieces of their lives that they can never get back.  This is how you go from your presence being welcomed now to you later being invited without even asking.