And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God
with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:3-5)
Paul, being well into his ministry at this point, identifies for his readers what works efficiently to move the hearts and minds of Christ's followers. He points out faith does not grow based on “the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
When we lead disciples, we must find what is efficient so we don’t toil in vain. Efficiency is the key to effectiveness. Efficiency will surpass effort when maximizing potential. Working hard has varying results, and you could be working hard at doing something wrong. In other words, just because you are busy with activities or events doesn’t mean those you are leading are being impacted.
Being as efficient as possible while maintaining high quality will yield consistent results at the highest level for that process. Doing the right things is more effective than doing a lot of things.
Figure out "What works" and concentrate on those tasks (processes). To help you identify what works and what is a waste of time, ask yourself:
What am I required to do? These are the things you must do.
What gives the most significant return? These are the things you ought to do.
What gives me the greatest reward? These are the things you want to do.
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