Paul's ability to focus gave him the willingness to let go of good things that were not important. What did Paul give up?
Paul focused his gaze so sharply that the things he once considered important, he now calls unimportant. He was willing to lose everything if it meant gaining intimacy with Christ (Phil. 3:8-9).
Focus in other leaders of the Bible.
Leaders who change the world have this kind of focus. They concentrate on the essentials and are willing to let everything else go.
- Abraham left his homeland, his wealth, and his friends to move to a new land, as God had commanded him.
- Joseph had the inner strength to endure hardship and prison. Through his dreams he was able to focus on God's greatness.
- Moses was able to turn his back on Egypt because he focused on God's plan.
- Stephen preached an unpopular message and died a martyr because he focused on God.
- Paul gave up everything and said, "This one thing I do."
- Jesus said to Martha, "But one thing is needful."
How does focus develop?
What must a leader do to develop the necessary focus? The keys to this are priorities and concentration.
- A leader who has neither priorities nor concentration will achieve nothing.
- A leader who knows their priorities but is not concentrated knows what to do but fails to accomplish it.
- A leader with concentration but no priorities has excellence without progress.
- A leader who uses both has the potential to accomplish great things.
There are many ways to prioritize the tasks at hand. The following thoughts help with reflection:
Paul is an outstanding example of a leader who refocused on the essentials every single day. What about you? The following thoughts help you keep from losing focus:
- Work on yourself. You are your greatest asset or your worst liability.
- Work on your priorities. Fight for the priorities that matter.
- Work on your strengths. You can reach your potential when you do.
- Work together with your colleagues. You cannot be effective alone.
Philippians 3:5-9
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.