You ever noticed how everybody seems to know somebody that “can help you with that. Let me just give them a call for you. Don’t worry, I’ll hook you up.” These days everybody seems to need a hook up, want a hook up, or have a hook up. Have you ever wondered what all that is? Well, I have and I’ve also noticed a few things:
- Hook ups aren’t necessarily bad. All of us need one from time to time. Some people just want to be helpful and they want to be known for helping others. So they collect information and contacts, and they put the right people together at the right time. Many times it’s a win-win outcome. BUT
- Hook ups can be completely self-serving too. Some people are simply barters, they trade one service or favor for another one. That’s not bad, necessarily. In fact bartering can be quite clever when done right. I hook you up Monday morning with a paying gig. You hook me up Friday night at the crowded hot spot in the city by becoming my guaranteed way in. That’s cool, as long as the third person (you know the one coughing up all the money) “gets the hook up” too by receiving excellent service. But self serving people don’t always think about everyone involved.
- Bad hook ups can save you money in the beginning and cost you extra work, extra cash, extra stress in the end. This is the case when someone hooks you up with a company that does sloppy work or someone hooks you up with stolen goods. What if you work at a local store and all your friends have the “hook up” because you give them free items out of the store any time they want. Well, your friends are happy because they get free goods. And you seem to be pleased because now people fake like they care because you’ve purchased their affection with your “stolen goods.“ And the guy who actually owns the store, the one who paid the price to create the business, is loosing money. I don’t think he feels hooked up, because it is his property to give or sale, not yours. Stolen hook-ups always cost you in the end (eventually), especially when you’re trying to live as a man or woman of God because with God integrity is everything.
You know, Proverbs says that ”pureness of heart“ and grace in your communication shall cause the king to befriend you (PRO 22:11). Now, that’s a real hook up: being connected to powerful people because of your integrity, discretion and conversation is the kind of connection that can stand the test of time. A man being diligent in his work, puts him in the company of kings (PRO 22:29). Since we all need a hook up from time to time, let’s be mindful of excellent and honest things.
MizJAI…life-styling for the King’s Company, you are welcomed to join me
