ARTICLES ON PROMOTION
DATE: 13 January 2002
SPEAKER: Pastor Tayo Adeyemi
TITLE: Positioning yourself for promotion
SPEAKER: Pastor Tayo Adeyemi
TITLE: Positioning yourself for promotion
Part II: Passing the test of faithfulness
TEXT:
Psalm 75:6,7
TEXT:
Psalm 75:6,7
Luke 16:10-12. We live in an age where people are celebrated for their talents, abilities and achievements - but there is one quality that God values above all these - it is called FAITHFULNESS.
Faithfulness has become a rarely quality amongst people. Psalm 12:1. "Help, Lord for the godly man ceases; for the faithful disappear from among the sons of man".
Proverb 20:6. "Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?"
The world celebrates talent and ability. God celebrates faithfulness. 2 Timothy 2:2, I Timothy 1:12. If God finds you faithful, He will supply the ability.
Why does God demand that we pass the test of faithfulness before He promotes us? Because promotion means that more will be committed to our trust. You are a steward of everything that you own - your job, family, ministry, money - everything! And faithfulness is the first and highest obligation of a steward.
1 Corinthians 4:2 "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful" Proverbs 25:13 - "…a faithful messenger refreshes the soul of his masters…"
To be faithful means to be consistently reliable in the transaction of business, the execution of commands or the discharge of official duties. It also means to do what you are told with what has been entrusted to you. In Luke 16:10-12 we see the three levels of faith.
THREE LEVELS OF FAITHFULNESS1.Faithfulness in Small Things - vs 10"What is least" means that which is smallest in size, in amount, in importance, in rank and in the estimation of men.
God determines how you will perform when you are promoted by watching how you handle your current position.
How do you know if a child will take care of his first car? Simply watch what he is doing with his bicycle right now. How will your staff handle the big clients? Watch them with your small clients. How do you know how a person will behave when they buy their own home? Watch what they are doing in the rented apartment.
"A small thing is a small thing, but faithfulness in a small thing is a big thing" - Hudson Taylor
Some people are waiting to get into the limelight before they really "perform" If you don't perform now, you won't perform then. Zechariah 4:10 "Who has despised the day of small things?" Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" - put your everything into it.
The day of small things is the training ground for the day of great things, but it is also the proving ground. No matter how small what you have today, don't despise it. Be as diligent as you would if the whole world were watching - because God is watching; and He's got the whole world in His hand.
In 2 Samuel 23:1, David was described as…
◦The man who was raised up on high.
◦The anointed of the God of Jacob.
◦The sweet psalmist of Israel.
But there was a time that the only audience he had was a flock of sheep. When he finished singing and playing on his harp, the only applause he got was the bleating of sheep. But he was faithful with those sheep - he protected them at the very risk of his own life. Little did he know that God was testing him. The greatest tests are the ones you have to pass when no one is looking.
"Prepare yourself and your day will come" - Abraham Lincoln
Joseph had a dream as a young boy. But then things took a down turn for him and went from bad to worse. But he did not develop a bad attitude - he was faithful with all that was committed to him, first in Potiphar's house, then in prison. - Genesis 36:6,22 One day all of Egypt was in his hand. Genesis 47:14. Even then he was still faithful.
Luke 16:10b "…He who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much" To be unjust means to deal fraudulently or deceitfully. There is no neutral position - if you are not faithful, you are unjust.
When considering a person for an important responsibility, there are certain tendencies that you need to watch out for:
1.A low energy level - indicates a lack of passion.
2.A tendency to complain about other people or things - indicates a critical and negative spirit.
3.A tendency to make excuses or not accept responsibility - indicates an unteachable spirit. People who make excuses never excel - they are typically non-achievers. Immature people shift blame.
4.A sloppy appearance or poor hygiene - if you can't take care of yourself, how will you take care of others?
5.An inconsistent lifestyle - changing jobs, ever changing departments, ever changing philosophies and principles, always coming late to meetings - indicates a lack of dependability.
6.People who don't pay attention - if you can't notice small things, there is a problem.
7.A tendency to gossip - either giving or receiving.
Why are all these little things important?
Great doors swing on little hinges - an avalanche can be triggered by one snowflake. Long before Judas betrayed Jesus, he had been unfaithful with money. So it wasn't difficult for him to be unfaithful with his Master's life. John 12:6,13:2
2.Faithfulness in Finances - vs 11Most of us know how to be faithful with 10%, but God is not concerned about 10% of your life.
Many believers are very spiritual about the 10% but they handle the 90% like carnal people. God wants to be involved in how you spend all your money.
Ask yourself a simple question "How much say does God have over your finances?" At what point will you say, "Lord you are going too far - back off!"?
Remember to be faithful means to do what you are told with what has been committed to you.
3.Faithfulness in what is another man's - vs 12You want your own business, home, ministry? How are you taking care of someone else's business, how are you keeping your council flat clean, how are you handling someone else's ministry?
How do you handle stationery and office supplies at work? Do you waste it or steal it? Do you use office stamps for personal letters? Do you take paper clips or staplers home?
Do you make personal calls on your employer's time? Do you surf the Internet when you should be working? You are stealing on two levels - first your employer's time, second his phone bill.
You say, "oh it's only a paper clip" How would you like it if someone come into your house and stole "only a teaspoon?"
How do you use water or electricity when you are in a hotel?
When you borrow something do you return it in good condition? Do you return it at all?
God wants to promote you but He's watching to see if you are faithful - Matthew 25:21
Faithfulness has become a rarely quality amongst people. Psalm 12:1. "Help, Lord for the godly man ceases; for the faithful disappear from among the sons of man".
Proverb 20:6. "Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?"
The world celebrates talent and ability. God celebrates faithfulness. 2 Timothy 2:2, I Timothy 1:12. If God finds you faithful, He will supply the ability.
Why does God demand that we pass the test of faithfulness before He promotes us? Because promotion means that more will be committed to our trust. You are a steward of everything that you own - your job, family, ministry, money - everything! And faithfulness is the first and highest obligation of a steward.
1 Corinthians 4:2 "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful" Proverbs 25:13 - "…a faithful messenger refreshes the soul of his masters…"
To be faithful means to be consistently reliable in the transaction of business, the execution of commands or the discharge of official duties. It also means to do what you are told with what has been entrusted to you. In Luke 16:10-12 we see the three levels of faith.
THREE LEVELS OF FAITHFULNESS1.Faithfulness in Small Things - vs 10"What is least" means that which is smallest in size, in amount, in importance, in rank and in the estimation of men.
God determines how you will perform when you are promoted by watching how you handle your current position.
How do you know if a child will take care of his first car? Simply watch what he is doing with his bicycle right now. How will your staff handle the big clients? Watch them with your small clients. How do you know how a person will behave when they buy their own home? Watch what they are doing in the rented apartment.
"A small thing is a small thing, but faithfulness in a small thing is a big thing" - Hudson Taylor
Some people are waiting to get into the limelight before they really "perform" If you don't perform now, you won't perform then. Zechariah 4:10 "Who has despised the day of small things?" Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" - put your everything into it.
The day of small things is the training ground for the day of great things, but it is also the proving ground. No matter how small what you have today, don't despise it. Be as diligent as you would if the whole world were watching - because God is watching; and He's got the whole world in His hand.
In 2 Samuel 23:1, David was described as…
◦The man who was raised up on high.
◦The anointed of the God of Jacob.
◦The sweet psalmist of Israel.
But there was a time that the only audience he had was a flock of sheep. When he finished singing and playing on his harp, the only applause he got was the bleating of sheep. But he was faithful with those sheep - he protected them at the very risk of his own life. Little did he know that God was testing him. The greatest tests are the ones you have to pass when no one is looking.
"Prepare yourself and your day will come" - Abraham Lincoln
Joseph had a dream as a young boy. But then things took a down turn for him and went from bad to worse. But he did not develop a bad attitude - he was faithful with all that was committed to him, first in Potiphar's house, then in prison. - Genesis 36:6,22 One day all of Egypt was in his hand. Genesis 47:14. Even then he was still faithful.
Luke 16:10b "…He who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much" To be unjust means to deal fraudulently or deceitfully. There is no neutral position - if you are not faithful, you are unjust.
When considering a person for an important responsibility, there are certain tendencies that you need to watch out for:
1.A low energy level - indicates a lack of passion.
2.A tendency to complain about other people or things - indicates a critical and negative spirit.
3.A tendency to make excuses or not accept responsibility - indicates an unteachable spirit. People who make excuses never excel - they are typically non-achievers. Immature people shift blame.
4.A sloppy appearance or poor hygiene - if you can't take care of yourself, how will you take care of others?
5.An inconsistent lifestyle - changing jobs, ever changing departments, ever changing philosophies and principles, always coming late to meetings - indicates a lack of dependability.
6.People who don't pay attention - if you can't notice small things, there is a problem.
7.A tendency to gossip - either giving or receiving.
Why are all these little things important?
Great doors swing on little hinges - an avalanche can be triggered by one snowflake. Long before Judas betrayed Jesus, he had been unfaithful with money. So it wasn't difficult for him to be unfaithful with his Master's life. John 12:6,13:2
2.Faithfulness in Finances - vs 11Most of us know how to be faithful with 10%, but God is not concerned about 10% of your life.
Many believers are very spiritual about the 10% but they handle the 90% like carnal people. God wants to be involved in how you spend all your money.
Ask yourself a simple question "How much say does God have over your finances?" At what point will you say, "Lord you are going too far - back off!"?
Remember to be faithful means to do what you are told with what has been committed to you.
3.Faithfulness in what is another man's - vs 12You want your own business, home, ministry? How are you taking care of someone else's business, how are you keeping your council flat clean, how are you handling someone else's ministry?
How do you handle stationery and office supplies at work? Do you waste it or steal it? Do you use office stamps for personal letters? Do you take paper clips or staplers home?
Do you make personal calls on your employer's time? Do you surf the Internet when you should be working? You are stealing on two levels - first your employer's time, second his phone bill.
You say, "oh it's only a paper clip" How would you like it if someone come into your house and stole "only a teaspoon?"
How do you use water or electricity when you are in a hotel?
When you borrow something do you return it in good condition? Do you return it at all?
God wants to promote you but He's watching to see if you are faithful - Matthew 25:21
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