“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

Good stewardship must be applied to at least three areas of our lives: time, talent and treasure. In regard to stewardship, the two that get the most attention are time and treasure.  Evaluating how we spend our time and treasure is much easier than measuring how we use our talents.  How effectively talents are being utilized is a much more complex issue to assess.

The real question is whethere e complex.uring time and how wwe use our talentss you are using your gifts and talents for their highest and best use.  Do you squander them by not using them to their fullest potential?  The early church leaders had to learn how to properly manage their time, talent and treasure.  They had a lot going on and it was easy for them to get distracted doing good things, even urgent things, without having a clearly defined approach.  Without an intentional plan, it’s easy for leaders to lose focus on what God has designed and specifically gifted them to do.  Here’s an account of this very issue:

“But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent…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)

Complaints are a common challenge for leaders trying to do something new or make something better.  Most people do not like change. This is not the time to get distracted.  As leaders we must always be thinking in terms of the “highest and best use” of our time, talent and treasure. If you’re not in your sweet spot, you are not at your best. 

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 an effective team.

Delegation is a powerful leadership strategy when properly applied.  At times we may find ourselves just doing a task rather than taking the time to recruit and empower others to take the responsibility off our plate.  We are most effective when we are freed up to do what we do best and when we let others do what they do best.  That is good talent stewardship. 

Focus today on what you do best and look for people who can free you up to make the most of your talent.