The missing ingredient

The brain trust of Fortune 500 companies once did research to discover the reason behind the success of their top executives. They looked at each corporate leader’s education, family background and wealth, assuming their success was linked to their rank at the top of the class, coming from excellent family stock or wealth.

Amazingly, they found that 50% of the top executives finished in the middle of their college classes and 75% of all American presidents graduated at the bottom of their class. So what was the one common trait responsible for their great success?

They concluded that PASSION is the main ingredient that separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. Sadly, it’s the one ingredient missing in most of us today.

Identify your passion

I define passion as that intangible driving determination to see your dream or vision fulfilled. It is undeniable motivation that never gives up, no matter how bad or contrary things become. It’s the fire that seems to be shut up in a person’s bones that inspires them to “keep on keeping on” no matter what!

Let me ask you these two questions:

1. Can you identify that one thing you are passionate about in this season of your life?
2. What could you give as tangible proof that you’re passionate about that one thing?

Just saying you’re passionate doesn’t make it so. For instance, the average Christian would say they’re passionate about their faith. In reality, there is very little tangible evidence to prove it. I say this because our neighborhoods, our culture and our world would be radically different if Christians were truly passionate about their faith.

If you want to see passionate people, go to a department store when they announce the sale of a limited number of a brand-name item. There’s a good possibility you’ll get trampled by a shopper rushing to be the first in line! That’s what passion looks like: totally focused, willing to take a risk at all cost and undeterred by circumstances and obstacles.

Time, talent and resources

Real passion is evidenced by three major components: your time, your talent and your resources. When a person says, “I’m a passionate Christian” the first question to ask them is how much time, talent, and resources do you invest in your Christian walk? Is reading your Bible and praying every day a priority or do you spend more time on other things?

Do you give weekly tithes and offerings, making up for them when you miss a corporate gathering? Or do you save your money for other priorities? Do you use your talent to serve as a team player in a corporate body, advancing the kingdom of God in your region? Or are you in it for yourself, committed only when it benefits you?

Less than 20% of all Christians tithe. Many hop from church to church, and some don’t go at all. It’s no wonder we have churches on every corner, yet our culture grows more and more evil.

Turn the world upside down!

Examine where you spend your time, talent and resources to correctly identify where your passion lies. We’re all passionate about something, but in spite of what we think, it might not be our Christian faith.

Let’s move from being ordinary, Sunday Christians to extraordinary, passionate men and women of God, bringing change to our world for God’s glory. The church of Acts turned the world upside down because of their passion!

The key to that kind of power is found only in having a passionate love for Jesus. So if you truly want a successful Christian life, see if you are missing the most important ingredient. Then pray for the Lord to give you more passion for His Son!

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