One Passion

Recently I began to read books that would prepare me for my teaching ministry in late July. I decided to focus on leadership books because I found the subject interesting, and they would help me develop important leadership qualities. There countless books on leadership today. Go to a local Christian bookstore and you will find an entire shelf of them. That’s why it was very interesting that one principle seemed to be repeated in all of the books that I read.

The principle was worded in different ways but the truth is the same. Successful leaders do a few things, and do them well. One book in particular challenges the reader to find the one passion or calling that God had given to them. Once that passion is found they are to focus all of their energy on doing that one thing with excellence. This truth goes totally against what I thought about being a leader.

I always viewed a successful leader as one who could do anything and everything with excellence. Because of that a lot of my focus would be on what I viewed as weaknesses. I felt that in order to be a strong leader I would have to develop those weak points into strengths. But as a result of my reading I see that is not true at all. Actually it will hurt my ministry because I will be doing a number of things in an average way instead of a few things with excellence.

So many people think that they can’t do a great work for God because of their weaknesses. But we each have a calling from God. He has placed within each of our hearts a passion to do a specific work, and given us the talents needed to accomplish that work. And those who find that passion and develop it will be successful in his eyes.

In case you can’t tell my passion is for youth. Specifically my calling is to disciple young people so that they can become spiritually mature. Because of that I have committed myself to focus whole heartedly on that one thing. For me to become involved in administration would be foolish because God has gifted me for work with youth. That is not to mean that I should refuse to do anything but youth work. But instead that I will make God’s calling my main focus.

It is a wonderful thing to realize that we can all be mightily used by God. We just need to dig up, cultivate, and develop the calling he has for our lives. I can guarantee you that working with youth will not make me a lot of money. I will not become world famous or be written about in a magazine. But I will have a happiness and peace that the rich or famous will not know. I will be able to pour my whole life into the calling of God for my life. And in the eyes of God I will be successful.