There is a law of diminishing returns. It is a law of this world. It is not of the Kingdom. Too many leaders are paralyzed by it and don’t know it.
There comes a time when the amount of effort and energy put into what you are trying to accomplish is not worth the change in the outcome.
The change in the impact of the result is only minutely affected by the large quantity of extra invested effort. Yet, we believe if we can put in more, it will be a better paper, sermon, worship service, outreach event, or Bible study. We end up wasting time and energy that could be wisely invested elsewhere. Such is not the way of the wise Kingdom steward (Luke 19:11-26).
This law causes us to ask for ten additional minutes. Such a request lessens our leadership abilities to make confident decisions and move forward. There comes a time when we must act.
Too many people today are afraid of beginning that blog, writing that book, engaging that unreached people group, starting that new ministry, helping that neighbor, or extending that marriage proposal.
I’m just not ready. Why not?
More time and investment are needed. How much additional time and investment do you need?
I don’t know. Give me some more time to think about this question, then I’ll let you know how much additional time and investment are needed to answer your first question.
A captive to the law of diminishing returns. Striving for more, but getting little.
As a seminary professor on graduation day, I would often ask newly minted graduates where they were going to pastor or serve in the world. And several times I would hear, “Well, I don’t know. I’m just not ready yet.”
The truth is they had 99.5% more Bible knowledge and 90.27% more teaching and leadership experience than most church members.
They followed the law of diminishing returns. They bought into the lie of just a little more knowledge, investment, and experience is necessary (No wonder we don’t have enough chairs at the church planting table.).
Are you following the law of diminishing returns? If so, break the law. You’ve invested enough, now act. Jesus has set us free from the shackles of sin–and the hindrances of this world’s system. We should be making wise decisions and realizing there comes a time to move.
To invest more is to act in a manner contrary to the Kingdom Ethic.