Untempered Mortar...Hmm

As you read the title, you had to read this post because I know what you are thinking. What in the world is Brian talking about? Well, I’ve been reading the book of Ezekiel for the past month or so and this term came up initially in Chapter 13 and I investigated it at the time, then the other day it came up again. It had me thinking during the first read, then it just brought me deeper the more I chewed on this term. While Ezekiel is calling out the false prophets in Israel with the term, I believe it is a term we can think about in just all aspects of our life and most importantly changes that are needed.

Let me first break down the term for you. This particular mortar is that which is not right for the job. It is mortar in many cases that is made with clay instead of slaked lime. It looks good on the outside when the job is done, but within a year it looks like garbage and will fall apart. I was reading over a post on FB the other day and someone asked the question, “buy once cry once, or buy cheap.” This is common today, you can go to Harbor Freight, Walmart, Dollar General, etc. and buy the “same” product but for 50% of the cost, however it will not last. It looks good on the outside though. (Don’t get me wrong here, sometimes cheap is perfectly good, other times you want quality). In our life we want to put our plans in something that will last.

Now that you understand this mortar, how does that apply? Simple what you put into something is what you are going to get out of it. Or, what is the the starting foundation, what you build on sets you up for future success or failure.

There is a reason for the stepped approach I apply in my financial teachings. You must start living on a budget if you are going to start saving and start tackling your debt. But even before that it is more important that you have a reason for why you are doing this. Do you really hate to see your income disappearing due to debt payments? Do you want to be able to take nice vacations, buy a house someday or enjoy some of that great income? What is your why? That is going to set the stage for the next steps in your career and your life.

Many times I talk to people in their career journeys that are looking to get to the next level and my first question is always why. Most of the time that is based on the fact that is the next level in their career, but it has to go deeper than that. You cannot just climb the chain because you want to progress your career or get paid more there must be a deeper meaning. When I started looking to my next level it was about influence, it was about mentoring and guiding others, it was about being a change leader and it was about having a place where I could show my faith, that those with good Christian, moral beliefs can do better and be themselves in public forums.

Is your mortar tempered or untampered? Have you put in the right ingredients to achieve what you want to achieve? Are you focused on the goal with the right foundation to build from. While Ezekiel was warning about those false prophets, I believe it is something that God was speaking to all of us that we can apply to our walk with God, our careers, our finances and our goals. Set the foundation right and put in the right work to achieve your goals.

Take some actions today. I want you to sit down and write out 3 goals for yourself. Then as you look at those goals, what 1 thing can do today to start working towards one of those goals.