To Bury or Not to Bury

John Maxwell once said, “One of the greatest enemies of success is success itself.” Many times, as a group or organization begins to succeed, someone will say, “OK, we’ve found it!” They’ll build a fence around it and say, “Don’t touch anything!” And the very method that brought success one day begins to bring failure.

Methods that once brought success bring failure? Hmmmm . . .

I can think of a few things that probably need to be buried. But as I survey the landscape of our organization I can’t help but to think that there are a few things that need to be resurrected.

What would Booth say if he could have five minutes to speak?

Perhaps he would say something like this:

If we fail in anything, it is not for us to say that our failure proves the Lord’s will. It may just prove the contrary. God’s will is always, and everywhere, that sin should be destroyed, that devils should be sent back to hell, and that all men should be saved. If we fail through the unfaithfulness of those about us, let us admit it, and that our failure is of the devil, and go to work and get things altered and mended. – General William Booth –

If you cannot go to the rescue one way, go another. – General William Booth –

“If I thought I could win one more soul to the Lord by walking on my head and playing the tambourine with my toes, I’d learn how.” – General William Booth –

Some men's ambition is art. Some men's ambition is fame. Some men's ambition is gold. My ambition is the souls of men. – General William Booth –

Hmmmm . . . maybe there are a few things that need to be resurrected.