“Of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. I will establish his kingdom forever if he resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances, as is done now.’”
1 Chronicles 28:5-7
When it came time for the transfer of position and power of kingship, Adonijah, Solomon’s brother, sought to assume the position of king. His choice to anoint himself led to his death. Consider the contrast between a vacancy being filled by a self-appointed king vs. a God-anointed king:
Self-Appointed
- Decides the timing and terms of appointment
- Is motivated by self-interest
- Is moved by what others say
- Self-promotes their assignment
- Selects their inner circle
- Promotes their position
God-Anointed
- Waits for the timing of God’s appointment
- Is empowered by God’s anointing
- Is moved by what God says
- Is promoted by others
- God reveals the inner circle
- Is positioned by God for favor with men
God won’t allow your talent to take you to a place your character won’t sustain you. Acting wisely requires positioning oneself in business, whether you are leading or following. There is nothing wrong with positioning oneself in a positive light when done with integrity. God promotes in His time, and after seasons of trying and testing, His promotions stand the test of time. Self-promoting only short-circuits God’s development process of getting you ready for His greater purposes. The marketplace is the canvas with which He works His will to fashion you into the likeness of His Son. If you are not sure where you are in the cycle of testing and promoting, ask Him to show you His hand in your career.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- When you have to share the stage, are you ever tempted to self-promote or edge others out?
- Whom do you know that raises their hand to put themselves in a place of prominence?
- What do you feel are the “character qualifications” of the next rung up on God’s ladder?
People promote you for performance, but God promotes where character and competence intersect, and performance follows.
