Friday, November 20, 2015

The Punctuality of a King (Part 1)

Suppose you're the big cheese - King, CEO or guest of honor.  If someone else comes late to dinner, his dinner is cold.  But the dinner can't start without you, so if you come late to dinner, everyone else's dinner is cold too.  

Lack of punctuality by the king imposes a cost on everyone else.  Showing up on time is courteous to others...and it actually is a way of showing that the welfare of other people...matters to you. 


Is punctuality serious? Evidently not, for some. On the other hand, it is valued highly by others.


"PROMPTITUDE" is not only a duty but it is also good manners. It positions you with favor and increases your reputation and influence.

__________________________

"I give it as my deliberate and solemn conviction 
that the individual who is habitually tardy in meeting 
an appointment, will never be respected 
or successful in life." - W. Fisk

__________________________


Should Leaders be punctual? YES.  
A LACK of PUNCTUALITY sends the following message....

1. MISTREATMENT OF OTHERS
  • A lack of punctuality is a THEFT of someone else's time.
    • An employee who is continually late for work is STEALING their company's time.
    • Friends who agree upon a time to meet, but don't show up on time are trampling someone else's time under foot.
  • A lack of punctuality is a lack of RESPECT for others.
    • Most of us would never be late for an appointment with The President of the United States or a boss at work.
    • If we HONOR others better than ourselves, we will make it a point to be on time when meeting with them.
  • A lack of punctuality violates the GOLDEN RULE.
    • Matthew 7:12 states that we are to treat others as we would want to be treated.
    • Suppose you were teaching a class, and half the class was consistently late?  How would that make you feel about the time you spent preparing?
  • A lack of punctuality is a violation of the GREATEST COMMANDMENT.
    • We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and STRENGTH. (Mark 12:30)
    • Consider this...when we are late for meetings/appointments to worship God or to learn about God, it may be an indicator that God is not really as important as whatever it is that is causing to be late.  Of course, not all tardiness can be helped...but when we are habitually late, we must examine our attitude towards The Lord. 
    • If you are normally on time for other appointments but are usually late for worship or prayer...then consider your heart and whether you have TARDINESS OF THE SOUL. (Some might consider that as backsliding.)

2. MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
  • A lack of punctuality is a loss of POWER.
    • The best plans in the world, the greatest intentions and the potential for increase are all sacrificed because someone is "ALWAYS LATE."
    • There are some people who always fail in whatever they undertake simply because they are always "BEHIND TIME."
    • Consider this...five minutes in a crisis is worth YEARS. Five minutes could be the difference between saving your finances and future.
    • If there is one VIRTUE that should be cultivated more than another it is PUNCTUALITY.
    • If there is one ERROR that should be avoided, it is being consistently LATE.
  • A lack of punctuality causes a loss FELLOWSHIP, SERVICE and REVELATION.
    • When you're late, you miss time to connect with the very people God wants to use to PROMOTE you or NETWORK you into your future.
    • The opportunity to be of SERVICE, should there be a last minute need, is lost when you're late.
    • The opportunity to HEAR some POINT, some TRUTH, that was presented prior to arriving late...is lost.

Have you squandered opportunities 
due to a lack of punctuality?