Want To Go To The Top?

I am in a class right now that is designed to help leaders rise to the top in their field. The presenter suggested that one way to go to the top was to volunteer your way up! I was surprised at her saying this, because I have had the notion that volunteering is the furthest thing from what corporate America stands for.

Of course in the church world we do a lot of volunteering, it’s called our ‘reasonable service” – offering our “time, talent and treasury” to the Lord. So the concept of volunteering is inbred within me.As I reflected on this, I also thought about something related:

^1-4 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2:1-4 (MSG)

In this passage the Apostle Paul has some additional things about rising to the top – it seems like the easiest way would be to get in line and push others forward. Paul’s admonition is to extend a helping hand to help others and then your own hands would be freed to do or to be whatever God wants you to be. Another song came in my spirit, one I taught my children:

…I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise
With a capital P
I am a great big bundle of potentiality

And I am learning to hear God’s voice
And I am trying (I’m trying)
To make the right choices
I’m a promise to be anything God wants me to be

I can go anywhere that he wants me to go
I can be anything that He wants me to be
I can climb the high mountains
I can cross the White Sea
I am a great big promise you see…

Songwriters: Willam J. Gaither / Gloria GaitherI Am a Promise lyrics © Gaither Music Co., Hanna Street Music

Since we are a promise, and God has a plan for our journey, we really do have plenty of time to help others who don’t know Him. We are going to the top anyway, why not help some others journey there too!

Maria