The English language is strange. For example, how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
In the same way two other words sound similar but are opposites. They are oversee and overlook. God often gives us projects to oversee. It may be with our children, our church or our work. Overseeing makes us feel important. But when our subordinates don’t do what they are supposed to do, we get tempted to overlook instead of oversee.
Delegation is a great time management skill. It allows us to multiply what we can accomplish in a day. But what we have to remember is that as a rule, people don’t do what you expect. They do what you inspect.
That’s why no one is really qualified to be an overseer unless they are willing to not be an overlooker and confront slothfulness in their subordinates. Remember, when we know we’re accountable, we’re more likely to redeem the time.
Rick Grubbs is best known as the host of “Redeeming the Time,” a one-minute radio program featured on hundreds of radio outlets around the world. He has spoken thousands of times on Biblical time management in all 50 states and 26 other countries. He is the author of the book “Morning Momentum: God’s plan for launching an unstoppable day”. He and his wife Carrie live in Salisbury NC with several of their 12 children.
