REGULARLY REVIEW YOUR KPI!

During my secular career, working as part of the senior management team for a large distribution center of one of the top retailers in the country, the team would regularly evaluate our performance versus established KPI, “Key Performance Indicators.” We would review performance versus our KPI at the beginning of the week, throughout the workweek, and at the end of the week. Regular reviewing our KPI was a key to ensuring that we met or exceeded our performance expectations. As you would guess, the KPI was increased periodically to challenge us as leaders, and to ensure that we optimized our productivity, and maintained a safe working environment.

Several years ago, our local church established Key Performance Indicators to help us evaluate our giving of tithes and offerings, our church attendance inasmuch as it revealed how well we were doing in the area of evangelism, Sunday School attendance, and in meeting our Bible Study participation goals.

So, let’s see, if the KPI concept can be adopted by big corporations, and it works for local churches, don’t you think it will work for us on an individual basis? I think so. As a matter of fact, I think we could pull out some major expectations that Jesus has for us as His followers. Why don’t you choose to develop some personal Key Performance Indicators that focus on areas where you would like to improve?  Need some help? Here you go! Perhaps you might establish a KPI for how well you demonstrated outwardly, with every opportunity, that you love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself. And then, perhaps you can establish a KPI that will reveal to what degree you are letting the world know that you are one of Christ’s disciples, looking closely at how well you deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Him. Of course, you would not want to omit making a KPI that relates to the Great Commission, right? Yes, there are many types of Key Performance Indicators that you can establish for a regular review, including how you love one another, how often you approach the gracious throne of God in prayer, and your performance related to modeling great stewardship of your treasures, time, and talent. If you run into difficulty establishing your individual KPI, I would suggest that you read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and determine to what degree you are building your house on the rock or on sinking sand.

Do you feel as if I’m giving you some homework? Well, I would say, “Yes,  I am!” But remember, as a result, your living as a Christian ought will be deemed excellent as you reach, with determination and devotion, for perfection. Be blessed!

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” (Matthew 5:43-48 The Message Bible)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King