Climbing
CLIMBING Most folk in the work
place would do almost anything to get a promotion
or a title. Research seems to indicate rather conclusively
that a title is even more important than a raise
in pay. Some will sell their morals to advance.
Others will spend more money than the promotion
would bring in, just to have the title.
Some even use family connections to lobby for
a position of authority and influence. You may
be surprised to learn that the mother of James
and John tried to lobby Jesus into giving her sons
a place of power in His kingdom. We read Jesus'
conversation with her in Matt. 20:21-24:
"And He said to her, `What do you wish?' She said
to Him, `Grant that these two sons of mine may
sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the
left, in Your kingdom.' So He said to them, `You
will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with
the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit
on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to
give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared
by My Father.' And when the ten heard it, they
were moved with indignation against the two brothers."
Scrambling for the top is always an injurious
process. Just like the other ten disciples, people
are indignant at the unfair and hurtful approach
taken by the overly ambitious. Quite often, those
who try to take short-cuts or devious routes to
promotion are doing themselves more harm than good.
In the final analysis, God gives and God takes
away positions! Read Psa. 75:6-7:
"For exaltation comes neither from the east nor
from the west nor from the south. But God is the
Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another."
Advancement and promotion is not a divine right;
it is a divine appointment. The secular world can
carry on in whatever way it chooses, with all the
pain, jealousy and anger it produces, but the man
of God enjoys the peaceful advancement God gives.
We must remember, too, that God can, and does,
see beyond the obvious; beyond the surface attributes
of a person. He knows the spirit of man, and gives
position and authority to those with an excellent
spirit. And anyone with an excellent spirit will
begin to stand out in a crowd. Read about the prophet
in Dan. 6:3:
"Then this Daniel distinguished himself above
the governors and satraps, because an excellent
spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to
setting him over the whole realm."
God is quite capable of arranging the circumstances,
and giving promotion, even through the Pharaohs
of this secular world in which we live. He did
it for Daniel! Read Dan. 2:48:
"Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many
great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole
province of Babylon, and chief administrator over
all the wise men of Babylon."
If you concentrate on doing the best job possible
in everything you put your hand to, and maintain
a right spirit, God will put you into a place of
trust and influence for His glory! The first priority
is maintaining a right spirit, and right relationships,
both with men and with God. 1 Pet. 5:6 says:
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty
hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,"
Promotion always feels better when it is given
by God, rather than manipulated by man. And you
don't get ulcers when you do it God's way!
