Psalms 75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. 6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
This passage of scripture shows us how intricately interwoven in the human experience is the providential working of God, who promotes one and demotes another according to His good purposes. Especially is this the case with the Christian who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, for as soon as we commit our entire lives to God, He takes us under the mantle of His protective care, and manifests His goodness in our behalf throughout the entire spectrum of our daily experiences. There's no need for us to worry and compete for the highest or best position on the job. No need to step over another in a mad rush for the highest office, and no need to cause bad feelings and alienation by striving for a promotion, because all that is required from us is that we do our very best at whatsoever our hands and minds find to do.
The principles on which the secular world prides itself, such as competition, fraud, bribery, falsehood, backbiting, and extortion, should be no model for the Christian, since we are called upon to work from an entirely different perspective. In satan's kingdom of darkness everyone sees the other as a stepping stone or as an obstacle in the way of his advancement or promotion, and because of this, a whole lot of back-stabbing and misrepresentation occurs in the work place. With the Christian however, he rejoices when others are promoted, and he esteems others as being better than himself. Let's read:
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Faithfulness, love, honesty and integrity are the characteristics that are most highly valued by God, and when these are manifested in the life of a Christian, God will open the way for us to be promoted, and if God be for us, who can be against us? This is exactly what took place in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who together with Daniel had been brought to Babylon as captives of king Nebuchadnezzar. Yet in spite of their surroundings which were obviously not favorable to righteousness, they were found faithful in that which is least and that which is much, so that God, who really runs the show on this earth, saw it fit to have them promoted to very high honor and responsibility in the kingdom. Let's read:
Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
The same can be true in our personal experiences with the same God. When Christians are faithful to duty, and stand firm for righteous principles, there will be no need to compete for honor, because in due time, God will exalt those who serve Him faithfully. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to leave promotions and other matters that pertain to our advancement, in the hands of Christ, for if God decides to bless us with a higher position of honor, there is no one to stop Him, or to say what doest thou? Let's read:
1st Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!