May 31. Is Being First A Matter Of Being Fit?

I have two interesting questions to pose to you today. The first is, “When are you first?” and the other is “Why are you first?” As the leader of a team, we often strive to be the first. This can be especially true in business where competition may be prevalent.

Our market share, first to market with our ideas, and profitability are often spoken about in a manner that focuses on us achieving some level of firstness. But that desire, treated as an objective, can come at a huge cost. Resources can be used up, misdirected, and work against our long-term vision of why we serve our customers.

Some might read this lesson and feel uncomfortable that I am even challenging being first. Is that you? I am absolutely ok with being first, but we need to understand why we want to be first. Where have you been first, and it was not what you expected?

Where are you striving right now to be first? Are you absolutely crystal clear with your team and customers and have their buy in as to why you are wanting to achieve that status? I believe that we might have a new term to use when being first is aligned with the when and why of being first.

I will call it the condition of firstness. As a leader, what is the first thing you can do in the next seven days to confirm the state of firstness in your leadership and organization?

The race is on. The verse John 20:4 shares the story of Peter and another racing for the tomb. The other reaches the tomb first but does not go in. I wonder why he did not go in. Remember there is not anything wrong with being first but the why is important.

The disciple might have wasted much energy in being first, he might have run by someone who was in need, or he might even have damaged his relationship with Peter. His reason might have been to prepare the way for Peter, to be a scout of some kind, or to be in prayer to honor God.

I do not need to know his why, but I do need to know mine. Do you know yours? Where in your walk with Christ might your activities not be aligned with Christ's first? If you are feeling that something is not in sync, or you are out of sorts, it might be a good exercise to check your why.

You might ask why because it will draw us closer to Christ. Leaders, what is your why in your faith? What is the first thing you can do about it to gain clarity or share it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, before anything there was you. You were and are first. Often when we run the race, we too often seem to get focused on our vision of being first. As we refocus our efforts on the why of our first, we ask for your comfort.

Identifying our why is likely to make us uncomfortable and reject changes. But if our first is not aligned with you the joy in the Lord may be diminished. May our achievements with being first bring you the honor and the glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,