by Michael Duduit Know Whose You Are

The company had hired a new CEO to shake things up, and he immediately calls a major staff meeting. As the meeting was getting ready to start, the CEO notices a young man leaning against the wall, clearly caught up in his own daydreams. The CEO marched over to him and barked, "How much money do you make in a week?"

Shocked, the young man nervously answered, "About $300 a week."

The CEO pulls out his own wallet, rips out twelve $100 bills, hands them to the young man and says, "Here's four weeks pay. Now get out of here and don't come back!"

Knowing he now has everyone's attention, the CEO turns and asks the group, "Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-off did around here?"

With a sheepish grin, a secretary mutters, "He's the pizza delivery guy from Domino's."

That story may include some lessons about patience and getting your facts before you act, but what I notice is the reality that the pizza guy acted as if he didn't care precisely because he wasn't part of the organization. He wasn't committed because he wasn't a part.

In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul writes, "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." Paul could attempt great things and endure many challenges because he knew "whom I have believed." He knew where his allegiance belonged, and to whom his life belonged.

We won't be effective leaders in any venture unless we know where our loyalties lie. And we won't be effective Christian leaders unless our primary focus is on the One in whom we have believed. Only when we know Who we follow will we be ready to truly lead others.

(Thanks to Bob Kopp for the pizza story!)

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Michael Duduit is President/CEO of American Ministry Resources LLC, and editor of LeaderLinks. You can contact him at michael@leaderlinks.com or visit his website at www.michaelduduit.com