Stewardship has broad application over at least three areas of our lives: time, talent and treasure. Out of these three, the two that get the most attention are time and treasure. Measuring time and evaluating how we invest and spend our treasure seem to have clear metrics we can grasp. However, measuring how we use our talents is a much trickier thing to measure.
The real question is are you using your strengths and talents for their highest and best use or do you tend to squander them by not using them to their fullest? The early church leaders ran into the challenge of being distracted by good things that were urgent rather than making the most of the talents and abilities God had given them. It’s very easy to lose focus on what God has designed us for and called us to do. Here’s an account of this very issue:
“But as the believersrapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said: ‘We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.’” Acts 6:1-4 (NLT)
Hearing complaints is the natural fallout of someone trying to do something they weren’t designed to do. If you’re not in your sweet spot, you are not at your best. As leaders we must always be thinking in terms of “highest and best use” of our time, talent and treasure.
Building a strong team with a variety of abilities and talents is wise leadership. Find people who are gifted in areas that you are not and they will compliment and complete you. None of us are as good as all of us. This is the essence of most teams.
When you find someone who can do the job better than you, you also free yourself up to do what only you can do. Delegation is a powerful leadership strategy when properly applied. At times we may find ourselves just doing a task ourselves rather than recruiting and empowering others to take the responsibility off our plates. We are most effective when we are freed up to do what we do best and let others do what they do best. That is good stewardship of talent.
Focus today on what you do best and look for people who can free you up to do just that.
“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”
~Theodore Roosevelt