A famous old poem goes like this: "When days are hot and flies are thick, use horse sense - cooperate. One tail on duty at the rear can reach that fly behind the ear. But two tails when arranged with proper craft can do the job both fore and aft."

Your decision to bound past mediocrity will help pull up others with you.

Choosing God's will in our lives always affects others and makes them better. William Danforth said, "Our most valuable possessions are those which can be shared without lessening those which when shared multiply. Our least valuable possessions are those which when divided are diminished."

We should look for opportunities to invest of ourselves in others and to help make them better.

Somebody did that for you once. Somebody saw something in you and reached out to help you. That act of kindness has determined where you are today. It may have been your pastor, your parents, a friend, a teacher, coach, neighbor, or just someone who offered some extra money, prayers, good advice, or equipment and supplied. But whoever it was, that individual had the foresight and the resources to invest in you and take a risk on your future.

I have a challenge for you. This week take a few minutes and send a note to those people who reached out and greatly affected your life. Also do this: take a few minutes and reach out to help someone else get ahead. You will find that this will be one of the most satisfying experiences you've had in a long time.

Proverbs 3:27 says, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." Invest in somebody today. Believe in that person. Offer support and encouragement. Help him come up to another level.

Try it, you'll like it! You'll also benefit from it!

Source: An Enemy Called Average by John Mason.
Excerpt permission granted by Insight Publishing