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This morning I re-read one of my favorite daily devotionals—Bob Gass’ The Best of The Word for Today Volume III for November 7: Focus On Your Core Competencies.

   Because there are a number of nuggets of wisdom in it, I decided to share it with you here in its entirety.  (I’m sure Bob won’t mind since I’m also doing this to encourage you to get your own copy of this wonderful book from his website!)

Howard Hendricks says, “As a young leader, my biggest mistake was allowing my time to be eaten up with things outside my core competencies.  I wanted to set the pace for others, to demonstrate that nothing was beneath me, so I devoted an inordinate amount of time to things I wasn’t good at—things I’d never be good at.  At the same time, I invested little energy into developing my strengths.  I worked hard, but not smart.

“Finally, I realized that my true value lay within the context of my giftedness—not the number of hours I worked.  There were some balls I had no business juggling.  When I finally got the courage to let them fall to the floor, I began to excel in juggling the two or three balls I was created to keep in the air in the first place.  And the amazing thing is, people came along and picked up the other balls.  What I couldn’t relinquish, were the opportunities they’d been waiting for.  What drained me fueled them.”

Of the two or three things that define success for you, which of them are in line with your core competencies?  That is where you must focus your energies!  That is where you’ll excel.  Within that narrowed context you’ll make the greatest contribution.  And best of all, you’ll enjoy what you do!

But I can’t afford to focus all my energies on one or two things, you say?  Maybe not yet, but that should be your goal.  It’s something you should be working toward if you ever hope to maximize your potential.

The scripture that immediately springs to mind is I Cor. 12:18 which says, “But…God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” (NIV) 

Wouldn’t it be silly to think that an elbow should strive to be as strong as a knee?  Yes, since they are both joints, they are similiar in function within the body; but, like the ankle, the knee is also a supporting joint and, therefore, must be physically stronger than an elbow.

So how ’bout you?  Are you devoting an inordinate amount of time to things you’re not good at…and probably never will be?  If so, maybe it’s time to give yourself permission to breathe a sigh of relief and admit that you’re not Superman (or Superwoman).  You really aren’t called to do it all, and if you keep trying to, not only will you continue to be frustrated, others around you (who have been strategically positioned there to help you) will be, too!

But you are called to do something—something special and unique—and whatever that is is what you need to devote the majority of your time and energy into.  And when you do, get ready for joy and fulfillment and true success—not according to the world; according to your Heavenly Father!

Can anyone out there say amen? 

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