Right Results, Wrong Methods

Right results are not the measurement of success. How you arrive at the results is even more important. It is not all about results. Of course results are important, done the right way. Pragmatism is not king. Christ is King. Christ cares as much or more about our methods as He does about our results. He may even bless our bad attitude in the short term, but He still requires our confession and repentance.

A bad attitude leads to wrong methods. There is no getting around this. You cannot lower yourself to lash back at the ingratitude and immaturity of others. Cool off and pray before you angrily give them what they want. If you cave in to coercion, then you are a good candidate for doing the right thing the wrong way. Then you may remorsefully get the right results and bypass the use of wise methods.

This can happen as easily at home as at work. Do not blow up at your children and give them their way just because they whine and complain. This is a recipe for rebellion in their teenage years. Early on they learn how to manipulate your emotions. Indeed, an environment of fatigue and frustration is not conducive to wise decision-making, and it is certainly not the best time to execute your decisions. Anger is like a large, dull knife. It gets results, but the process is jagged and bloody.

Before you launch off into a direction of leadership, make sure that you have a defined process of wise methods and accurate measurements. Create these out of a calm and cool head. Do not act in a way that you later will regret. Previously planned processes are in place for your protection. These are checks and balances to assure excellence in execution.

God is very interested in our methods. He expects to be honored and respected in the process of getting results. If you run over people to reach your goal, it is an inaccurate reflection of the Lord you serve. However, if you serve people in the process of reaching the agreed-upon goal, you illustrate the heart of Jesus.

So much hinges on our spirit, attitude and actions. This is a trilogy that reflects right methods. Yes, methods need to be modified for efficiency and effectiveness, but this can be done through dialogue, not dictating. People are respected when the rationale is explained around a change in procedures. The best ideas can come from those responsible to implement them. Listen keenly to the voice of reason.

Wisdom resides here. You do not have to rush to get results out of fear of failure. You can wait, pray and define a planned out process that is derived from collaboration with the team.

Then your work is sustainable, and everyone is honored in the process. Focus on the right methods, and the right results will take care of themselves. Always remind yourself of how Christ would behave. It is the spirit of Jesus that cultivates the right attitudes and actions. Trust and honor God with the process and in the process. Then, the right methods will support the right results!

Taken from the dose 34 reading in Infusion.

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