Life seemed to be spinning out of control for Libby. Married to her high school sweetheart, Tom, the mother of three elementary school age children, Libby is also the hospitality coordinator for the PTSA. Aside from being a homemaker, wife, and mother, Libby also works full time as a receptionist for an insurance company, sings in the church choir, serves on two committees, studies for a weekly Bible study group, and works with children’s church.
For some reason, since the start of this school year, Libby cannot seem to keep up. Accustomed to being on top of everything, Libby is feeling unusual pressure as things begin to fall through the cracks. Her Superwoman complex has left her.
What Libby and many others do not take into consideration is no one can be great at six different obligations. We see this often in the church and other organizations. One person taking on five or six positions in the organization. It is impossible to be great at five obligations.
If our focus is on good, we cannot make the leap to greatness. The best efforts of success come out of greatness. Good is always the enemy of great. Superman is a myth. And not even Superman was great at all things. As Clark Kent he was not the greatest of communicators and he wore glasses. Even Superman had his faults. No person can be great at all things.
Trying to carry too many obligations at once will never lead to greatness – for the person or the organization (ministry). Too often we settle for good when God created us to be great in service to Him.
No one can take on five, seven, or ten areas of responsibility and perform to the best of his/her ability in any of the areas. It is physically impossible. Given the choice, I would rather have a person be great at one thing she is passionate about than have her attempt to be good at six things pulling at her time and talents from different directions.
Why not conduct a little self-introspection and decide at what you really desire to be great? You will find it will be something that you also have a passion for. Then focus on being the very best that you can at that obligation. We all play multiple roles in our life. Some of these you cannot drop. Taking on more commitments for your organization does not make you a better person. In fact, it detracts from your ability to achieve God’s greatness. However, when we focus on one major and one minor commitment, we will succeed and then alone can we achieve the greatness for which God created us. Remember, Good is always the enemy of Great!
For more on achieving the greatness of God’s design in your life, organization, or ministry, contact George Yates and purchase your copy of Reaching the Summit: