“Then he gave Rebekah gold and silver jewelry and clothes. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and mother.”

Genesis 24:53 (NCV)

Today we’re going to finish our journey through the story of Eleazar and the big goal he had of helping his master, Abraham, find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac.

We’ve already learned that to be successful in achieving goals, you must:

• Determine your present position
• Describe exactly what you want
• Find a promise from God
• Ask him for help
• Identify the barriers
• Create a step-by-step plan
• Be patient and persistent

The final two steps are these: You must enlist a team for support, and you must be willing to pay the price.

First, enlist a team for support. You’re never going to fulfill your vision by yourself. Success is never a one-man show. You’ve got to involve other people. It takes teamwork and cooperation. 

An African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

Eleazar did this. He enlisted Rebekah’s parents and relatives for support. He got the cooperation of the people around him.

The Bible says: “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT).

The last thing you must do to accomplish a dream is this: You must be willing to pay the price. There’s always a price tag for fulfilling a dream; there’s always a cost for reaching every goal.

The Bible says Eleazar was willing to pay the price: “Then he gave Rebekah gold and silver jewelry and clothes. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and mother” (Genesis 24:53 NCV).

Great goals require great sacrifice. Ask yourself, “What will it cost? What am I willing to pay? Is it worth the cost?”

Let me give you some advice. Never desire the success of another person without first finding out what they gave up for it. They may have given up their health or their family or their integrity. Maybe they even gave up on God. 

Some things are not worth giving up. But some are worth sacrificing for a greater cause.

Friends, I’ve noticed that a lot of people give first-class allegiance to second-class causes. You need to give first-class allegiance to first-class causes.

The greatest use of your life is to invest it in those things that will outlast it. Make the rest of your life the best of your life.