What Makes You So Different?
Judges 11:6
“And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.”
The story from the verse above is interesting in the fact that Jephthah was not originally wanted by those whom he eventually led. Jephthah was the son of a harlot. The people in his home town did not want him because he represented something for which they did not want to be known. However, the Scriptures say that Jephthah was “a mighty man of valour.” This attribute of Jephthah was eventually the key that caused him to be wanted from his people.
The Ammonites declared war against Israel, and Israel had no one to lead them. It is amazing that the person who came to their mind was Jephthah. Though they originally cast him out because he was the son of a harlot, they now wanted him because he had something that they needed. The attribute of his valour is what caused these people to want his leadership.
This is one of the greatest secrets to life. No matter what your background is, you can get people to follow you if you have something they need. When you have something different than everyone else, then that will cause people to want to know you. If you know something that someone else does not know, and something that they want to know, then they will allow you to lead them so you can teach them what they do not know. If you know someone whom people want to know, then they will allow you to lead them so they can know that person as well. If you have something that people want to have, then they will follow you so they can learn how to get what you have. This is one of the greatest things that divides successful people and organizations; they have something that others would like to have.
Why should people come to your church? What makes your church so different than others? Just because you have a church and stand for the truth doesn’t mean that people will come; however, they will come if there is something different about your church that they would like to have. I am not talking about compromising what you believe, but there must be something that stands out about your church that draws people to stay. Your friendliness should be friendlier than any other church in town. Your sermons and Sunday school lessons should be more helpful and relevant than any other church in town. Your spirit should be happier and more attractive than any other church in town. When your church has something that others churches do not offer, then you will find that people will want to come to your church.
Furthermore, if you personally offer something that others cannot offer, then they will allow you to lead them. If you would learn to increase your knowledge in many areas, then you would find that you would have knowledge that others do not offer. If you would hone a skill, then you will find that you have something that others do not offer. If you would get a great attitude that others want to be around, then you will find that people will want to follow you. The key to advancement in any field or ministry is to have something that others want so that they will follow you.
I challenge you not to settle for the status quo. I challenge you to acquire something in your church, ministry, marriage and personality that others do not have. Whether it’s something you know, or someone you know, or something you have, this is what causes people to want to follow you. The whole reason to get people to follow you is to be able to point more people to Christ. Begin your journey today to acquire something that others don’t have so they will allow you to lead them to become what Christ wants them to become.