New Ways

My, Devotion to Him #318

Have you ever been promoted or recognized by management for your work? Many of us have. Countless companies do their best to promote within rather than hire someone from outside. I’ve been there a few times. However, there was a time at one of these jobs when I got promoted to manager.

Like many others, I was happy and felt they had seen and appreciated all my hard work and the extra hours I had put in. However, being in my early 20’s turned some eyes on me that had not been there before. The attitude that came my way was unexpected because I had worked with these people for six months daily, but now how I was looked at and talked to by a few was different. 

Sadly, a few of these people ended up losing their jobs. They couldn’t find a way to overcome the fact that I had done virtually everything possible to earn what I was given. Even after the promotion, I continued to push myself. Even after being a manager, there were still times that poor attitude would cause termination for a few people. 

I hated the feeling of letting people go, but there is a standard that should always be followed.

Many people lose a job due to their attitude or get passed over for a promotion due to how they approach work. Some have even found themselves let go simply by how they treat people, which can be a hard pill for some to swallow. How many marriages fall apart because of these three things: attitude, approach, and treatment of others. 

Attitude has always been an interesting one to me because of its nature, and that’s a choice. We can base everything around us on our attitude, and many have fallen into a terrible cycle due only to attitude.

Verse Passage: Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” – ESV

Verse Passage: Ephesians 4:23 “and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” – ESV

Verse Passage: Romans 12:10 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” – ESV

This doesn’t mean you can’t be upset about how things are done. But let us work, desire, and strive to be Christlike in how we handle ourselves, treat others, approach work, and react to situations in life. Let us emulate the one we follow and shine a light on the good work He has done and is doing in us. Become an example of what a good worker, spouse, parent, friend, and witness looks like. We are called to bare the fruit of the Spirit. Habits formed are hard to break, so today, start with the new pattern of becoming an example despite the situation and walking in the love of Christ. Today, start letting God take care of things while we perform our work in a way that is pleasing to Him. 

God bless, 

Copyright © 2023 by Jacob Olinger