Do you want a promotion? – Monday, 8 January

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:20-21 NKJV
 

Many people want to get promoted – but you have to be promotable to be promoted. Many people want to be used by God to make a difference and impact people’s lives, but you have to be usable to be used by God. God loves us all the same, but He promotes us and works through us to the degree that we are usable and promotable – and that depends on us. It’s the same in the workplace; if you want to be promoted, you need to be promotable, and youdecide if you are promotable or not. As you embrace growing opportunities and mature in your character, you become more and more usable and you’ll set yourself up for promotion. The Bible is full of wisdom that will help you grow in character and help you become promotable.

Growing opportunities include moments when you are confronted with decisions and you get to choose between doing what you know is right/best or doing what is wrong. Maybe it’s choosing between the easier route (but the wrong route) and the more difficult (but correct) route. “If anyone cleanses himself…” shows that the responsibility is on us to become usable. Every time we choose to make the right decision (regardless of its difficulties) it helps to develop our character, and in turn it is setting us up for promotion and success.

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
2 Timothy 2:1-2 KJV

Paul (a senior leader in the church) is writing to Timothy (the leader of the church in Ephesus) and instructs him on how to appoint leader (people who influence others). He doesn’t say to look for people who are gifted and can teach and communicate well. He says to look for character: people who are faithful (trustworthy). If you want to be promotable then you have to choose to be faithful. It won’t happen by accident, and neither will it happen overnight. Faithfulness is something you grow in.

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
Luke 16:10 KJV

As you prove that you are faithful with the little that has already been entrusted to you, you’re proving that you can be trusted with more. This takes time. Faithfulness cannot be proven in a day; it’s proven when you show consistency towards your responsibilities in spite of circumstances which may be difficult or easy.

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus…”
2 Timothy 2:1 KJV

Paul shows us the most successful way to become promotable and to grow in faithfulness: “Be strong in the grace”. This is step one to reaching your potential and walking in your destiny. Grace is God’s unmerited, undeserved and unearned favour. It focuses on what Jesus did for me, and not what I do for Him. When you are strong in grace (in realizing what you freely have in Christ) it leads to fruitfulness in character and in action. A strong inward flow (grace) leads to a strong outward flow (fruit). So, while faithfulness and character development are a choice and a responsibility on our part, it should not be something that we strive for. It should be an effortless result of us focusing on Jesus and His grace towards us.

As we are established in the truth of His amazing grace, our characters will mature. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) describes a mature believer’s character. Many Christians attempt to produce these characteristics (love, joy, self-control, etc.) in their lives by their own efforts, which only leads to frustration. Fruit becomes effortless when you have the right root. Simply focus on your root in Christ, be strong in grace (what Jesus has done for you) and you will begin to be fruitful.