Vested Relationships

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Proverbs 11:25 ESV)

Many corporations offer to match employee contributions to retirement funds. However, some companies require employees to be ‘fully vested’ before they can claim their benefits. If you terminate employment before a certain number of years, you become ineligible for this portion of your retirement savings. Corporations use this system to retain employees and conserve costs. 

A similar but less defined phenomenon happens between individuals. When investing energy into new people, most of us tend to hold back at first. We wait and observe: Is this a temporary acquaintance who is self-serving? Are they merely seeking to enjoy themselves, stroke their egos, network with your contacts, or gain influence? Do they play power games? Does this relationship seem transactional in nature? Or is this a person who will be part of your journey for life? Before we become fully vested in another person, we look for patterns of caring behavior, honesty, consistency, and dependability. It takes a certain amount of time and positive experiences before we develop trust. We may sow seeds of blessings generously without expectations of reciprocity, but most of us are careful about whom we allow into our inner circles. We invest unconditionally in a select few. We water these relationships consistently, knowing that they are integral to our growth and well-being.