Promotion Comes From God…Not Man !

In 2006, I applied for the post of a Manager of a company here in Lagos, Nigeria. I was put through verbal and written tests. I recall being asked to write an essay on Business Management. I did my best and left. I told God to have His way. I like praying like that a lot because “there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”-(Prov 16:25).

Interestingly, the Assistant General Manager of the company turned out to be a graduate of my former school and also a graduate of Business Administration and Management, just like me. With these coincidence, I concluded that the job was actually mine.

It took a long time before I got a formal response from the company. And when I finally did, it was to have a discussion with the Managing Director. There, I heard a very stunning revelation.

Unknown to the AGM, the MD had already sighted my interview file, which included the essay I wrote and which he (the MD) was so impressed about. On his (MD’s) return, my file had disappeared. The AGM actually hid my file, probably to pave way for his own candidate. But the MD said when he threatened fire and brimstone, my hidden file surfaced !

My friend, I got the job ! In fact, a tussle ensued between this company and another that also wanted me. I felt like a hot cake 🙂

My story is common place – injustice and deprivations – all in the name of someone trying to prove that he or she is greater than God. What most “powerful” people always forget is that God is the begining and end of promotion. He has the power to switch positions in seconds. 1 Sam 16:1 says : “And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” The AGM was actually fired eventually. He never thought things could happen so fast the way it did. But it did.

God does not look at size, age, academic qualification, years of experience or family background, when he wants to promote. Compare man and God here : “And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” – (1 Sam 16:6-7)

NO HUMAN BEING knows how God determines who to bless or promote. Sometimes his choice is the unimagineable. See what happened to Joseph before he became Governor in Egypt : “And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” – (Gen 39:20-21)

It is a very dangerous arrogance to question God’s choice. The AGM did it and was disgraced and fired. What about the scar he left on my mind! “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” – (Psa 75:6-7)

Forever man will be man; and God will be God !!!

“Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”- (Ephe 3:7)

Thanks for your time.

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Withholding what belongs to God

Transient nature of power  

When you seek help from man

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