FOLLOW THE LEADERAs a result of this growing understanding of the eternal significance of
time, leaders are always very time-conscious and on-time people. Leaders
make it a practice to always be on time. Being tardy or late is a rare
exception for a leader, rather than the norm. Usually a good leader is not
just “on time”, he or she is early! One of my own favorite phrases is: “If
you are on time, you’re late – but if you are early, you are on time!”
Biblical leaders operate on “God’s time”, not on “African time”...“Asian
time”...“American time”...“Indian time”...or “Haitian time.” They believe
that all time is God’s time – so they take the stewardship of time very
seriously.
Principle:
“Leaders understand that all time has eternal consequences.
Th erefore, they never waste their time, or the time of others.”Leaders understand that constantly being late is a sign of insensitivity
and selfishness. The person who is perpetually late is thinking only of
himself – if he is thinking at all! His perpetual tardiness is a measurable
example of his complete insensitivity of other people’s time and schedule.
Constantly being late is a form of stealing. It is robbing other people
of the time that you have wasted by being late – and by keeping them
waiting. Time theft is a great relational sin! Tragically, it is rampant in the
body of Christ!
Principle:
“Always being late is a sign of selfi shness and
insensitivity.”Wasting time is more than just theft – it is murder! In America, young
people have an expression that they sometimes use when they are just
“hanging out” with nothing to do. They call it “killing time.” I am so
thankful that my parents taught me the importance of wisely using
time when I was growing up. They taught me this principle by precept
and example: “Killing time is not murder – it is suicide!” They helped me
understand while I was young that when I wasted time, I was squandering