Embrace Your Uniqueness: Be the Asset in Life
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound concept of being the asset and starting to happen. The essence of this message is to recognize that you are the primary asset in your life. You have the unique ability to generate action and make things happen. This is not about external achievements but about understanding your intrinsic value and potential. We delved into the Greek grammatical voices to illustrate the difference between being passive and active. The call is to move from being a passive recipient of life’s actions to an active generator of your own destiny.
You are unique among the 7.5 billion people on earth. There is no one like you, and your existence alone is valuable. This uniqueness means you should not waste time imitating others but should instead focus on your own path and twist. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and this inherent design is what makes us valuable, not our accomplishments.
We also discussed the importance of maintaining your physical and mental health as part of being an asset. Your body and mind are designed to function optimally for many years, and it’s crucial to invest in them through exercise and continuous learning. The concept of age was redefined, emphasizing that chronological age is not the only measure of your vitality and potential.
Moreover, we touched on the power of ideas and intellectual property. Your ability to generate ideas is a divine gift, reflecting the image of God in which you were created. This capacity to think and innovate is what sets you apart and enables you to contribute uniquely to the world.
Finally, practical steps were provided to help you start happening. These include making decisive decisions, prioritizing your battles, focusing on your goals, and managing your attention economy. The importance of being nice to people and handling pressure and offense was also highlighted. By following these principles, you can truly be the asset and start happening in your life.
### Key Takeaways
1. Recognize Your Unique Value: You are the only you among 7.5 billion people. Your existence alone is valuable, and you should not waste time imitating others. Embrace your unique twist and focus on your own path. This uniqueness is what makes you an asset. [05:36]
2. Invest in Your Physical and Mental Health: Your body and mind are designed to function optimally for many years. Exercise and continuous learning are crucial investments. Chronological age is not the only measure of your vitality; your biological and social ages also matter. [14:08]
3. Harness the Power of Ideas: Your ability to generate ideas is a divine gift, reflecting the image of God. Ideas are more real than physical stuff and have the power to change the world. Focus on your intellectual property and innovate. [16:31]
4. Make Decisive Decisions and Prioritize: The most expensive thing on earth is a decision. Once you make a decision, your mind will instruct your actions to follow through. Learn to prioritize your battles and focus on what truly matters. [26:45]
5. Manage Your Attention Economy: Not everyone deserves your attention. To contribute meaningfully to life, you must manage your attention economy. Learn to ignore distractions and focus on your goals. [35:25]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[04:28] - Be the Asset, Start Happening
[05:36] - Embrace Your Uniqueness
[06:38] - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
[07:48] - The Marvel of Human Design
[09:27] - The Power of the Brain
[10:19] - Society's Conditioning
[11:58] - Invest in Your Physical Body
[12:32] - Understanding Age
[14:08] - Biological and Social Age
[15:31] - Intellectual Property
[18:28] - The Power of Ideas
[20:33] - Consistency and Focus
[22:34] - Programming and Self-Talk
[24:48] - Do Not Despise Your Circumstances
[26:45] - Make Decisive Decisions
[28:16] - Learn to Prioritize
[30:42] - Be Focused
[33:02] - Know When to Be Silent
[35:25] - Manage Your Attention Economy
[37:53] - Learn to Handle Pressure
[39:09] - The Importance of Reading
[40:58] - Be the Asset, Start Happening
[42:45] - The Impact of Happening
[44:32] - Jesus as the Ultimate Example
[45:06] - Final Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 139:14 (NIV) - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
2. Genesis 1:26 (NIV) - "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"
3. Philippians 4:13 (NIV) - "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what does it mean to "be the asset" and "start happening"? ([04:28])
2. How does the sermon explain the concept of being "fearfully and wonderfully made"? ([06:38])
3. What are the three types of ages mentioned in the sermon, and how do they differ? ([13:03])
4. What is the significance of ideas and intellectual property as discussed in the sermon? ([16:31])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does recognizing one's unique value among 7.5 billion people impact one's approach to life and decisions? ([05:36])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that physical and mental health are crucial to being an asset? ([14:08])
3. How does the ability to generate ideas reflect being made in the image of God, according to the sermon? ([18:28])
4. What practical steps does the sermon recommend for "starting to happen" and how can these be applied in daily life? ([26:45])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your unique qualities and strengths. How can you embrace and utilize them more effectively in your daily life? ([05:36])
2. What specific actions can you take to invest in your physical and mental health this week? ([14:08])
3. Identify a recent idea you had. How can you develop and implement this idea to make a positive impact? ([16:31])
4. Think about a decision you have been postponing. What steps can you take to make and act on that decision this week? ([26:45])
5. How can you better manage your attention economy to focus on what truly matters in your life? ([35:25])
6. Consider a situation where you felt offended or pressured. How can you handle such situations more effectively in the future? ([39:09])
7. What is one way you can be nicer to people in your community or workplace this week? ([36:08])
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Your Unique Value
You are unique among the 7.5 billion people on earth. There is no one like you, and your existence alone is valuable. This uniqueness means you should not waste time imitating others but should instead focus on your own path and twist. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and this inherent design is what makes us valuable, not our accomplishments. Recognize that your intrinsic value is not tied to external achievements but to the fact that you are uniquely created. Embrace your individuality and let it guide your actions and decisions. [05:36]
Psalm 139:14 (ESV): "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
Reflection: What are some unique qualities or talents that you possess? How can you use these to contribute to your community or family today?
Day 2: Invest in Your Physical and Mental Health
Your body and mind are designed to function optimally for many years. Exercise and continuous learning are crucial investments. Chronological age is not the only measure of your vitality; your biological and social ages also matter. Maintaining your physical and mental health is essential to being an asset. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and continuous learning are investments that pay off in the long run. By taking care of your body and mind, you ensure that you can contribute effectively to your life and the lives of others. [14:08]
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV): "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
Reflection: What is one small change you can make today to improve your physical or mental health? How can you commit to this change consistently?
Day 3: Harness the Power of Ideas
Your ability to generate ideas is a divine gift, reflecting the image of God. Ideas are more real than physical stuff and have the power to change the world. Focus on your intellectual property and innovate. The capacity to think and innovate is what sets you apart and enables you to contribute uniquely to the world. Your ideas can bring about significant change and impact. Embrace this divine gift and let your creativity flow, knowing that your thoughts and innovations are valuable. [16:31]
Proverbs 8:12 (ESV): "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion."
Reflection: What is one idea or project you have been putting off? How can you take the first step towards bringing it to life today?
Day 4: Make Decisive Decisions and Prioritize
The most expensive thing on earth is a decision. Once you make a decision, your mind will instruct your actions to follow through. Learn to prioritize your battles and focus on what truly matters. Making decisive decisions is crucial for progress. When you decide, you set a course for your actions to follow. Prioritizing your battles ensures that you focus on what truly matters, avoiding unnecessary distractions. This clarity and focus will help you achieve your goals more effectively. [26:45]
James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."
Reflection: What is one decision you have been hesitant to make? How can you seek God's wisdom and take action on it today?
Day 5: Manage Your Attention Economy
Not everyone deserves your attention. To contribute meaningfully to life, you must manage your attention economy. Learn to ignore distractions and focus on your goals. Your attention is a valuable resource. By managing it wisely, you can ensure that you are investing your time and energy in things that truly matter. This focus will help you achieve your goals and make a meaningful impact in your life and the lives of others. [35:25]
Proverbs 4:25-27 (ESV): "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."
Reflection: What are some distractions that often take your attention away from your goals? How can you minimize or eliminate these distractions starting today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You need to accept what you are because self-pity is a killer of progress and ideas. So my title says, be the asset, start happening. In the Greek, as usual, I'm a theologian also, so I refer to Greek. In the Greek language, there is what we call voices. Voices. There is an active voice, the middle voice, and the passive voice. Now to explain that title, be the asset, start happening, I'll focus on the middle and the passive voice." [01:00] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Why should you happen? Because you are the only you. There are 7.5 billion people on earth, but you are the only you. You are not a photocopy. So if you don't happen, no one will happen on your behalf. When you sit and watch television and watch soapies and things happen, you are watching people happening. They are in action. Now in life you can choose whether to be a spectator or to happen." [03:30] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Being the asset. Means by physically existing. You are not important because you have done something. You are important because you exist. The very fact that you are seated there, you are looking at me, has so much value that it cannot be devaluated. So being the asset simply means, you know when the Bible says I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. Not that I have done fearful and wonderful things. No. The design itself is fearful and wonderful." [06:38] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So be the asset. And start happening. How do you happen? In order to preserve. Your physical asset. Do not sit. Exercise it. I call it. Because it was designed. To be like that. One of your best investments. In life. Is to invest in your physical body." [11:58] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You see, God has given us. Mental assets. Those who are in the medical field. There is what they call. F. M. R. K. I've seen it through. The larger the course of. Your life. You are not featuring it in. Yet your precious wealth. Pretty much is what you are. Watching. I would like to. I just do it here. And you do the same. Oh my goodness. Bardzo. you're hearing and you're talking so they'll be talking to you as they operate if they see that you're beginning to stammer they move away from that area but what i'm trying to say is that while they do that they can open your brain they can open your brain look at the gray matter remove the tumor but here is the mystery they will never read your mind they will never read your mind that that's what we call intellectual property what is yours is yours originally if you come up with a company and you want to register it the first thing they" [15:31] (105 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The point I'm making is, I know when we meet people, there are those we think they are extra talented. And sometimes we try to imitate and copy them. But God is good. God is good in such a way that out of the 7.5 billion people, there is no one like you. You are not a photocopy of anyone. You are original. Therefore, do not waste time imitating people. Happen in your way." [05:36] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You know what society has taught us? Society has taught us that at the age of 60, 65. You are expired. You are done. You must go home. You start lining for grants. Because society. You know the preacher said in the morning. Classical condition. Society has conditioned you that at the age of 65. You need to go home. Especially if you are a pastor. At the age of 65 there is a policy that says. You must go home. Now that policy. Much as it is good. It brings it what I may call premature death. At the age of 65 you start dying. Because you are conditioned. To die." [10:19] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You see, did you know that they cannot read your mind they cannot read your mind they cannot read your mind they cannot read your mind they cannot read your mind and you are the only one who can generate ideas do you know that ideas are more real than physical stuff ideas do you know that the entire universe is an idea do you know that man himself is an idea because the bible tell you he says let us make man in our image that was an idea everything that we've been able to do now has you touch is an idea the cell phone it was a plan before it existed it existed in the mind of someone and and so when I say be the asset and start happening I'm actually saying do not like neglect your ability to generate ideas because you have the capacity the very fact that you are created in the image of God you do have that capacity" [16:31] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The most expensive thing on earth is a decision. Most expensive. The world is looking for decided people. People who have taken a stand. So make a decision. Once you have made a decision, the mind will instruct the hand to get the funding to ensure that the decision goes ahead. That's how it works. The most expensive, there are so many undecided people on earth. They don't know. Some don't, don't even know whether they are, I don't know how to describe it. They don't know where they're going. You read, read a lot of stuff. say this today, tomorrow they are saying that, tomorrow they are saying that, you see a trail of indecision. If you want to happen as an asset, make decided decision." [26:45] (74 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Be focused. You know, being focused simply means mind your business. Mind your what? Your business. You can't happen as an asset if you are random. You are random. You do everything. Mind your business. Next time you go and see horse racing, watch the horses. They put blinders on the horse on the sides. So that the horse is what? It's focused. Humans should be like that. We should be like that. We should be focused. I mean, you can't be a master of everything." [30:42] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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