Know that God has a purpose and a plan for your life. He wants to raise you up.
He Himself said, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” [1] But understand that your character is His primary focus, not your career. He’s more concerned about who you are for Him than what you do for Him.
Components of Character
Many people mistakenly reduce character to the definition of integrity; that’s accurate in part but not in whole, especially as it relates to being raised up, or maintaining promotion. A person can be morally sound but professionally incompetent.
So character is broken down into four categories:
- Competence– This means suitable skill, knowledge, experience, etc to do your job. Competence is a necessity as people will not be ruled by someone who lacks it. Sheep demand a competent shepherd; men of war demand as leader a man of war. “Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.” [2]
- Capacity– The root meaning for the word “capacity” is “to hold much.” This means that you can handle the present weight of responsibility with an increase and not burst from the pressure. Influence comes with responsibility–to have one is to live with the other. They can’t be severed!
- Maturity– A leader must be mature. When Paul describes the characteristics necessary for a bishop (or leader) he states point blank that the candidate should not be a novice. [3] In fact, the word “novice” is the Greek word “neophutos” (pronounced NEE-O-FOO-TOS) which is derived from two Greek words: “neos” (new) and “phutos” (planted). So a bishop (or leader) can’t be someone who is newly planted but someone who is rooted and grounded; someone who can’t be easily plucked up.
- Integrity–Integrity means “steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code” and “the quality or condition of being whole or undivided.” What the latter means is that your moral beliefs are in line with moral action. What you say is what you do. The Bible says, “The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but He delights in those with integrity.” [4]
Do you lack in any of these areas?
Good.
Confession leads to correction.
Can you have promotion without sound character? In my opinion: yes. Can you maintain it? In my opinion: no. Sound character is necessary to maintain what you want to attain; and God uses time, truth, and trials to fashion this character; but the character that He wants is the character of Christ.
What are your thoughts?
- Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
- Proverbs 22:29 (New Living Translation)
- 1 Timothy 3:6
- Proverbs 11:20 (New Living Translation)
