525: Competence

This week we continue our discussion of the five c's in succcccess with the third c - competence. (If you missed the previous two, you can access them here.)  I want to say at the start that God does not promote or use people with potential.  He does not promote holy people just because they are holy.  God promotes and uses people who have developed their potential and have coupled their holiness with competence and fruitfulness.  Don't believe me?  Then read on and see if I can convince you.

PROOF PLEASE

How can I make statements about the importance of competence? Consider these examples:

1. Daniel - Daniel served with distinction in Babylon.  He was promoted because of his gifts that God gave him, but he developed them, as it was said of Daniel: "At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent" (Daniel 6:4).  Daniel was a good, perhaps even a great, skilled administrator.
2. David - David was a prolific songwriter and poet who honed his skills by regular use.  He was also a magnificent warrior and leader, of whom the people sang: "When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (1 Samuel 18:6-7).
3. Esther - Esther was a beautiful woman, by God's design: "This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful" (Esther 2:7b). What did God do with her beauty?  He dispatched her to the king's servants, who bestowed beauty treatments on Esther for one year.  The result: She was even more beautiful than before! 
4. Paul - Paul knew four languages and was from one of the most cross-cultural city in the Roman Empire. He was a Jew of Jews, who was a stellar keeper of God's law by his own admission: ". . . as for righteousness based on the law, faultless" (Philippians 3:6). What did God do with this man who had excelled in Judaism?  He chose Paul to be His representative to the Gentiles.  God took Paul's skill, redirected and perfected it, and used it for His glory.

THE LESSON FOR YOU

The lesson for you should be clear.  God uses you to the extent that you have developed your skills and gifts.  If you are competent, He will use you.  If you are competent and have integrity, He will promote you to the highest levels that your gifts and foundation will allow you to attain. Your succcccess in any field or endeavor is a partnership between God, who provides the grace and opportunities, and you, who develop your competence. 

What is your plan for competence?  Do you even have one?  In what field or effort do you want to be competent, even world-class in skill and effect?  Mind you, I am not suggesting that competence is more important than holiness or integrity?  I am saying, however, that without competence your holiness alone will limit God's ability to use you to the fullest extent of your potential.  Give some thought this week to the importance of competence in succcccess and then go about a one-, five- or lifetime plan to achieve the greatest skill possible for you as you express your purpose and pursue your goals.  Have a great week!

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MATCHING GRANT:  Today is the last day for the $1,500 matching grant we had received for the library work in Kenya.  That means unless $1,500 comes in today, we lose the grant.  That's alright, for God has a plan, so I am not worried. There is still time today, so I have not given up until I check the mailbox this week to see if someone sent a check.  If this is the first you have heard about this grant, you can read about it here and then give through my website or by sending a check today to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.  His will be done, so give as He leads and directs and if He doesn't do either, then I and we will trust Him for other sources.

I NEED FEEDBACK:  I am in the middle of revising my book, So Many Leaders, So Little Leadership and posted some definitions of leadership, team and purpose on my blog.  If you have a chance, take a look at them here and tell me what you think of how accurate they are and/or how they can be improved.