“How to Get Promoted” Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts
A few days ago I received an email from a friend in Germany, a fellow Army Chaplain. He had some bittersweet news--he had just been selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel…but many of his friends were non-select. It is impossible to figure out how promotion boards pick some and not others. Officers pour over their military files in a futile attempt to make some sense of why they weren’t chosen. The selection process seems arbitrary and unfair. A soldier’s sense of worth is on the line, and his or her future as well. Those who are passed over face self-condemnation—“I’m not good enough.” To make things worse the military has an “up-or-out” policy for Lieutenants, Captains and Majors. Those who don’t make the cut are released from the service. For most, a military career is a matter of survival, and simply making it to retirement is considered a near-miracle.
I know that the Army doesn’t have a monopoly on difficult promotions. Teachers strive for tenure, members of corporations fight their way up the ladder, and all through the process one encounters politics and pitfalls.
Now consider Joseph. When you really think about it, things haven’t changed much over the years. Joseph was successful at everything he did—yet his life was full of ups & downs; promotions and imprisonment; success and slavery. Throughout this painful process he never complained; he simply trusted his life to God. That isn’t easy when you find your identity in your profession. Joseph was able to re-group, change course, and entrust his future to God.
In order to be “successful” we may need to re-define success, to see it from God’s point-of-view. Success means to be doing what God wants, where He wants us, and the way He wants us to be. That means faithfully seeking His will, His direction, according to His standards.
My ministry verse is on the cover of the bulletin each week, and was read by Robin at the Installation Service--Colossians 1:28. But I also have a career verse, which has helped me get through every selection board and every assignment. That verse is Revelation 3:8, “I have set before you an open door which no one can shut.” Our sovereign Lord is the One who gives us success. He is the President of the Promotion Board. His purpose is never frustrated. He is in control. What if we don’t get what we’re hoping for? This means that sometimes He says “no” to our goals. Sometimes life seems to take a nasty turn. If you don’t believe me, ask Joseph! Sometimes we look so hard at the door God has closed we don’t see the one He has opened for us. When life seems to fall apart we need to believe that God is causing all things to work together for good. If you’re struggling in your career, remember that in life we can only count on uncertainty and God’s sovereignty.
The cupbearer’s forgetfulness worked in Joseph’s favor—at the most opportune moment he recalls Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. He apologetically told Pharaoh of the unusual Hebrew slave with whom he had “spent time.” Joseph is cleaned up, brought to Pharaoh, and given a chance to speak. This was not a “lucky break”; God planned it this way. Pharaoh had 2 disturbing dreams; Joseph understood with double assurance that the separate dreams were about one topic and were to be taken seriously. This was even worse than Y2K! The chief wealth of Egypt consisted of cattle and grain. The Holy Spirit had been preparing Joseph for this moment.
Early on in my military career I had a Christian Battalion Commander, a LTC Chuck Hines. One day he called me into his office at the HQ and asked me to pray for him. He was being considered for the Army War College. I’ll never forget what he told me that day: “Bob, I know that if the Army wants me but the Lord doesn’t, I won’t be picked. I also know that if the Lord wants me and the Army doesn’t, I’ll be selected anyway.” Colonel Hines was selected, then later served as an instructor at the War College, and retired about 10 years ago as a Major General and is now a college president in Texas.
Nelson Mandela’s term of office is coming to a close. Here’s a man who spent most of his adult life in prison, only to become the leader of his post-apartheid nation. Who would have foreseen this turn of events during Mandela’s years as a political prisoner?
God makes us what we are; we’re not self-made. The Apostle Paul declared, “I am what I am by the grace of God.” Pride causes us to think we’re great; pride fools us into believing all the glowing comments on our evaluation reports. Joseph never fails to give credit to God for his success. He is quick to point out that He is simply God’s instrument. Greatness comes from above.
Being passed over for a promotion, special schooling or a prized assignment usually means the death of a dream. Yet it is also a time when God is redirecting us. Had I been selected for promotion to 0-6, what we call “Bird Colonel”, I’d have likely stayed in for 30 years and be right now en route to a new military assignment instead of here. Some of you have recently gone through job changes; you’ve been thrust out of your comfort zone and forced to seek God’s re-direction. That’s a tough place to be, but it’s a prime place to experience God’s guidance and power.
Eventually we feel led to put in our paperwork. Earl Ellis did this recently, retiring from teaching and school administration after 36 years. Ken Parsons has 44 working days left (but who’s counting?); Doris Cook has decided to step down as church secretary—and she says it’s not because of her “mean boss”! My Uncle Bob who visited us last week told me how he retired from ATT. The only thing he did wrong was not informing Aunt Eileen! We know when it is time to hang it up when we’re walking with God. By the way, Uncle Bob said that mid-way through his career he was advised to tone down his religion. People knew he was a devout Catholic, not because he made a big deal of it—he simply was devoted to God. Fellow workers would come to him for spiritual advice. Uncle Bob told us of a young woman who came into his office one day saying she needed to cry; she had just had an abortion and was feeling awful about it. Bob comforted her and reassured her of God’s love. I wonder—do the people you work with know that you are a Christian? Would they seek you out?
One more thing about my relatives: My uncle Bob and my uncle Walter (who’ll be visiting us in September), both saw retirement as an open door to serve their church. Both work tirelessly in their parishes—one as a deacon, the other as an administrator. When God closes one door, another is opened! That was true of Joseph; it can be true of us! When I pastored the Post Chapel at Fort Bliss, I discovered that retirees can be the lifeblood of a church—they had the time and experience to provide tremendous expertise. On NPR this week there was a report on how the retirement years can be the most productive. If you’re retired, how is God using you? If you’re planning for retirement, how does God figure into your plans?
Pharaoh’s magicians and advisors were unable to interpret the ruler’s troubling dreams. Joseph not only provides the dream’s meaning, he offers advice on how to prepare for the famine. Verse 32 provides the key to Joseph’s power: “the matter is decided by God, and God will do it soon.”
Though he’s been called on to advise Pharaoh, Joseph’s humility is quite obvious. In vs. 16 he tells Pharaoh, just as he told his fellow prisoners, that God is the Source of revelation. When he advises Pharaoh to appoint someone of insight to mobilize the country for the famine, he doesn’t presume to be the one for the job. Joseph was discrete—he could have pushed himself forward saying “I’m your man”, but he didn’t. He was simply glad to be out of prison. The Book of Proverbs states, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings” (22:29), also “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will succeed” (16:3).
To reinforce Pharaoh’s appointment of Joseph, he was given an Egyptian name meaning “the one who nourishes us”, and the daughter of a priest as his wife. They had 2 sons: Manasseh whose name means to “forget”—Joseph was able to put aside the pain of the past. The other son was named Ephraim, whose name means “twice fruitful”. God made Joseph fruitful in spite of adversity. Joseph overcame his hardship, healed the pain of the past and was used to save both Egypt and his own people. His sons helped him forget the pain of the past and reminded him of how God caused him to be fruitful in spite of adversity. He mobilized Egypt for the coming famine; he had 7 prosperous years to prepare. Through his administration Egypt was able to “save up for a dry day.”
In verse 42 Joseph was given a robe finer than the coat of many colors given him by his father Jacob—poetic justice, to be sure!
Joseph could have focused on the betrayal of his brothers, the injustice of Potiphar, the ingratitude of the cupbearer. Instead he chose to focus on the plan of God, Who was preparing him for greatness. He went from son to slave to sovereign. How we see life affects who we become.
Prayer: Sovereign Lord, help us to follow You in spite of uncertainties and obstacles, with the assurance that you love us and are watching over us. Let us be faithful, in good times and bad. We honor You and want to serve You—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—Amen.
