Strengths #3

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am … (NKJV).

In Brief Word #52 & #53 (#52 August 2015 and #53 September 2015 — see www.goodwords.nz), we discussed the importance of discovering our strengths.

When we know our talents and abilities, and do what we do out of that vast pool of God-given resources, everything — life, ministry, family — works better.

Here’s ‘5 Ways To Work and Serve Out Of Your Strengths’.

1. Know your strengths.

When we say ‘strengths’ we’re meaning talent, ability, skill, something we can do and love doing, easily.  It is the unique way we’re wired up.

A weakness on the other hand is not a failure, or an ability that needs attention or an innate flaw to who we are.  It is just an area that we are not as strong to function in as others.  (Character flaws must of course be addressed).

The first step to working and serving out of our strengths is to know what they are.  Let’s ask God what they are.

Phil Pringle says; “Whatever you are good at, is probably your gift”.  If we’re good at something, if we love doing that thing, if we read, learn, and devour information about it easily, if people comment that we’re good at this or that, then, it’s pretty clear those are our strengths.

Any investment into a course, life-coach, seminar or even sitting round the table with trusted friends and colleagues and asking them to be honest in sharing with you what they see as your strengths and weaknesses, is a wise investment.

2. Accept the person we are.

Part of the issue we’re up against here is the pressure to be what we think we should be, the person our parents or teachers thought we could be.

Each of us are a unique creation.  God has wired us up in a certain way.  We have strengths, and weaknesses, that make us who we are.  We should not be ashamed of the strengths we have, but at the same time we should never feel guilty about the weaknesses we have.

Own them, the strong points and the weak points of our talent pool.  The mix and makeup of our talents — strong and weak — make us who we are today.

3. Resist the temptation to ‘train our weaknesses’ into strengths.

When we know our strengths and weaknesses it is tempting to try to strengthen our weaknesses.  We think we should attend a seminar or get some coaching to ‘make us better’ in that area, or, have our weakness prayed out!

And while that may help, it can only lead to more and more frustration because we were never designed to be strong in that area.

There also seems to be a culture in our world and in the church that expects us to be an all-rounder who is good at most things, and can perform above average across many areas.

Resist the temptation to train our weaknesses into strengths.

4. Encourage, invest in and follow the desire to ‘train our strengths’ to become better.

When I discovered that my strengths lay in administration, writing, reading, thinking, introversion, it released me from loads of self and culture imposed baggage.  I then knew why it was I loved to read, write, teach, think, philosophise, and be on my own.

I discovered that over the years I have ‘come alive’ at the possibility of any training, instruction and growth in these areas.

I’ve learned that investment into my weaknesses is just a waste of time and money.

I have discovered however over the years that any investment in time and money into training and enhancing areas of my strengths and talents, pays huge dividends.  I’m engaged, interested, passionate, and will stay up late easily at the thought of growing in my strong areas.

So don’t be afraid to spend the time and money in growing in your strengths.  Your family, your work, your church and you personally will be the better for it.

5. Outsource or delegate tasks in our weak areas.

I know all too well, when you’re leading an organisation with stretched resources, many times there is no one to do all the work that needs to be done, so, we just get in and do it.  Whether we are good at it or not.  It needs to be done so we do it.

That philosophy and work style works, for the short term.  I know.  But in the long term, it just does not.  I know.  It leads to burnout.  I know!  It happened to me.

There is a better way however.

I thoroughly believe that in the short (actually really very short) term, we can do things outside of our strengths.  God’s grace enables us.  When we do, it is a demonstration of our true character.

We must never use the knowledge of our strengths and weaknesses as an excuse for not doing stuff short term, if the short term need arises.

For long term sustainability of our careers and relationships and everything really, we must learn the art of delegation and outsourcing.

There are some jobs around the house I know I can do, but others I know it is best to call in an expert, pay them the money, and let them lose!  The money paying them is money well spent.  I’m happy, the tradie is happy, the family are happy because the job was well done.

The right people, doing the right things, at the right times, with the right resources (strengths), for the right reasons, with God’s help, simply means…, the right stuff happens!

The implications for our family, our career, business, our churches, organisations and personally are absolutely immense!

It’s true;

“You CANNOT be anything you want to be — but you CAN be a lot more of who you already are”

Then, like Paul, we can say by the grace of God I am what I am…