1Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (KJV).
In the Kingdom, it is not about earning a position; it is about being faithful with the one you already have, so God is able to promote you to the next one. The problem lies with those who want the promotion without performance in their current position. They say they will be faithful with a new position, but their performance in their current one proves that a false statement. How many carry out their duties in a mediocre fashion, yet are upset when they do not get the position that requires excellence? It is amusing to see people whose performance is sub par, but expect a raise or to be moved up the ladder anyway. It actually shows a lack of integrity when people fail to be faithful with the “smallest” of things. If a person does not have integrity, how can God promote him to a position that requires great integrity?
This statement is good to remember: character matters! The first thing God examines is the heart, and that is where He determines the qualifications. Talent has little to do with it. Think about it: God gave us our talents, and it is important the way we use them. We have seen over the years that History repeats itself. Many have come and gone with great abilities, but had no character, which in turn led to ruin. There are numerous examples in the Bible of those who started out well, but ended badly. In modern history, how many companies have come to ruin because of those in leadership had no honor? They were loaded with talent, but when they got into positions of authority, they lent their talent to unrighteous behavior, which led to the demise of other people’s livelihood as well. With promotion comes responsibility, especially because it affects other people as well. A person with great nobility and little talent is more reliable than one who has great talent and no nobility. You can at least trust the former, while the latter is questionable at best. Faithfulness and righteousness go hand in hand, and those who despise righteousness will not be found faithful. Favor is found with the righteous: “For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield” (Psalms 5:12, KJV).
There are those who have an excellent spirit, but have yet to be proven. They have not demonstrated they have the capacity to operate at a higher level, simply because of the lack of time in service. As we will see this is not a cut and dry issue. For example, most people begin with an excellent attitude when they first start out, but for some that changes with time. In a matter of days or weeks, their wonderful attitude moves out and a lousy one moves in. Once that happens their performance plummets and they become unreliable or at best mediocre. Their “excellent spirit” is not so excellent after all. Nonetheless, there are those who truly have an excellent spirit, but they must go through the fire before they go to the next level. Promotion requires process. James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (KJV). If God does not take us through trials, we will not be prepared to handle the more difficult things of the next level. It pays not to push for promotions; wait on the Lord. When a person is being tried, that trial is for other people’s benefit as well. For one thing, faithfulness through the “thick and thin” testifies of the goodness of God. It may cause those who do not yet know Him to want a relationship with Him. Secondly, your trials actually encourage others to press on when they face their own. “If they can endure, I can endure.” Thirdly, people gravitate to those they know who have already been tested. It is easier to follow someone proven over time than a novice. There is a sense of trust that accompanies experience. Face it; people love confident leaders. Those who endure to the end grow to be confident in the One Who dwells in them, and that is the best confidence to have. With fire comes purity, and with purity faithfulness.
