A man observed a professional golfer repeatedly practising basic shots, and he wondered why a pro would focus on fundamentals. The golfer’s response taught him a valuable lesson: mastery requires consistent commitment to basics, not just skill.
Friend, you need to develop mastery (1 Timothy 4:15). Mastery does not come by doing new things. It comes by doing the same basic things over and over again. Anyone who wants to develop mastery must not be bored with routine (Daniel 6:10, Mark 1:35). He must be comfortable doing the same basic things.
I believe the most important word in the Bible is the word CONTINUE. This is what produces disciples (John 8:31-32). Disciples are disciplined people. They are those who maintain the commitment to continue to follow Jesus and the word of God. If you don’t continue, you are not a disciple. If you are not a disciple, you cannot be a master (Luke 6:40).
It has been said that if you have not committed at least 10,000 hours of unbroken devotion to an activity or a venture, you cannot claim mastery over such (1 Corinthians 15:10). If you are a businessman, you must have poured a minimum of 10,000 hours into that business. If you are a preacher, you must have done such a number of hours in preaching. If you are into sports, you cannot do less.
Perhaps the reason we don’t have many masters is that not many people are disciplined enough to sustain commitment in the same thing over time (Philippians 3:12-14). Some are easily bored. Some others think that doing the same thing means you are not creative. We should be creative. But we should not be mediocre at many things (2 Kings 9:20).
Masters have control over their time and also dictate their pay (Genesis 30:28-30). If you want to make more money or have the freedom you desire, be a master. Be known for something. Be able to do something better than an average person does it (Genesis 41:33-44). Know something about everything and know everything about something.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria