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if i were asked which principle was one of the
most helpful in the journey to the Kingdom of God, what
would I say?
In Luke 17:10 we are told, “When you have done all those
things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofit-
able servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” On
the surface this scripture seems rather harsh, yet it offers a
vital lesson in overcoming human flaws and building godly
character.
Luke 16:10 reveals an overriding principle to show how we
become profitable servants: “He who is faithful in what is
least is faithful also in much.”
The principle is simple: You get better by doing small things
well. Life is really made up of a lot of small things. Practicing
little things—the basics—gives one an edge in life toward
success.
I love to cook, especially Italian food like tomato bruschetta
and Italian sausage (without the oink). I try to make the
recipe better by revving up the uniqueness of flavors through
the use of special spices.
In the same way, getting better is based on the principle
of continuous improvement, learning and changing and
increasing your capabilities and being a constant learner.
The sharp edge of success is found in a simple principle—the
principle of the slight edge—becoming better little by little.
Victory can depend on the smallest of improvements. In
almost every game ever devised, the victory goes to the one
who scores merely one point more than the opposition. In a
horse race, the difference between winning and second place
may be a scant inch, but that can be all it takes to win.
In the July 2009
Good Housekeeping
magazine, there is an
article on good health titled “Small Changes to Get Health-
ier,” where Richard Laliberte gives 10 principles on how to
“tithe” your way to better health.
He said, “To be successful at any big undertaking … you may
be better off giving only 10 percent and not worrying too
much about the other proverbial 100.
“‘You’re more likely to succeed by making small changes,’
says Catherine Champagne, Ph.D., professor of research at
the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State
University System.”
Laliberte confirms, “Micro-improvements do more than chip
away at a larger objective—they accomplish plenty on their
own.”
Stephen M.R. Covey in his book
The Speed of Trust
writes,
“Get Better is … based on the
principles
of continuous
improvement, learning, and change. …The
opposite
of Get
Better is entropy, deterioration, resting on your laurels. … If
you aren’t making a conscious effort to Get Better, you’re not
just standing still; you’re getting farther and farther behind.”
Two biblical principles
In Deuteronomy 7:21-24 we’re told the children of Israel
would put out their enemies “little by little.” In life each vic-
tory in overcoming our enemy is done little by little, by the
principle of the slight edge for success. Paul tells us in 2 Cor-
inthians 5:17 (in the original Greek), “If anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all
things have become new.”
Learn the principle of gaining the slight edge, and you
will find major successes in becoming a truly profitable
servant.
OA
Sharpening
Iron
Finding the Sharp
Edge of Success
Making steady, consistent improvements can
be the key ingredient to becoming a profit-
able servant.
by
richard pinelli
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