So You Want a Promotion?

So you want a promotion. You want to be in charge of something. You believe your purpose in life is to be in leadership. That’s great. We all want to have a clear, defined purpose for our lives, but when it comes down to it, are you really ready?

See, the world functions differently than God does. In the world we jockey for positions. We market ourselves. We push to make things happen in our own strength. We expect promotion because of the hours we’ve put in, the things we’ve accomplished, or the titles we’ve earned, but that’s not how it works in God’s system.

Examine the parable of the Shrewd Manager in Luke 6 in the context of life and it’s pretty in your face. Read it and you’re forced to ask yourself, “What are you trying to do? Whose kingdom are you trying to build?” Is the answer your own, or Gods?

So many believers want to talk about the anointing and ministry and what’s exciting to them, but when it comes to the not-so-exciting stuff, like being faithful and loyal and paying the price, they shut down. You want to know how to get promoted? Read I Timothy 3. Paul is telling Timothy how to choose his leadership team. Now, these qualifications are given in light of Timothy choosing spiritual leadership, but this applies to anyone wanting a promotion. It’s about management. Read it. Is that you? Do you manage your family properly? How’s your home life? Do you take care of your house and your car?

This is so important. Everyone says the right stuff. But go to their car and their house and see how they manage those things. If someone doesn’t know how to manage their personal life, how can they manage a corporation, a sales office, or a team? God isn’t going to speak spiritual direction to you until you qualify by taking care of earthly responsibilities. Until you pass these tests, you’ll be in a holding pattern. Your resume doesn’t matter. No one puts how many pencils they stole or the number of times their boss wasn’t happy on their resumes. Forget what you tell people. What are you doing with your life, your relationships, and your stuff? You have to be handle what you have before you can handle something else.

Now, you can learn management. You can make changes. But authority is another touchy subject that has everything to do with your destiny.

Where do you think God will put you to test you for promotion? Do you think he’s looking at how well you pray? NO! He tests you for promotion by placing you under authority and seeing how you do. So, do you mumble under your breath about your boss, or laugh with a friend who got out of a speeding ticket? See, you have to understand how to be under authority in order to be in authority. God knows that if you don’t obey earthly authorities, you will NOT obey Him. He’s going to keep working on your character and molding you so that you can stay where he’s leading you.

So, start submitting to the authorities in your life as unto God. And take stock of your life. Analyze your attitude and your management abilities.

Then, sit down with your family and get things in line. Prune some things if you need to. Posture yourself to receive promotion. Trust God with who He has placed you under and what He is leading you to do. Pass the tests and get to your destiny.