day 122: Titular Power...Not

Work is so hierarchically based that I have seen people walk away from a great, high paying, well respected job because they felt that they just had to have the next highest title. They were keeping score in their career by the title that they carried on their business card. We are all to some extent, who are in management, affected by this. We go from Manager to Senior Manager and we feel good about it. The changing of one letter from a consonant to a vowel with SVP to EVP is a big deal. But, in the scheme of things we all know that people who lean on their title or the stripes on their shoulders to get things done and to gain respect within the organization, are the not the people who end being followed and respected. Yes, there are certain companies who have made the title that someone holds so critical that you feel you must reach the next level to get anything done, but that's not even true in those companies. How someone operates with others and treats those who work for them and around them can usually bust through all of the politics of titles. As we strive to bring purpose to our work and be the example that Christ wants us to be, we would be wise to forget about the title and level as the overall goal. When we get fixated on these things we lose perspective and when that happens we begin to lose who we are. Jesus gathered together the twelve most amazing men we could imagine and he did so not by walking up and passing out a business card that said, "Son of God", he just was himself, without title, and said, "Come, be my disciple!" and these men followed him. Jesus was far from being about title and power. He was the opposite with humility and shrouded purpose. George Barna says in his book Revolution, "Think about His choices and how He responded to various circumstances. He was baptized by someone whose very salvation was dependent upon being forgiven by Jesus. He refused to accept title or even simple accolades. He did nothing to call attention to Himself; in fact, He generally shunned the spotlight and avoided situations that would bring notoriety and acclaim. He consistently exhorted people to demonstrate humility and to realize that their stature is determined by God, not by what they or others say." Yet, we strive and work for that next title, for that next accolade thinking that with one more rung up the ladder everything becomes better. No doubt, sometimes it does, but the point is that this cannot be the overriding goal and purpose. So today, reflect on this and think if getting ahead has become too important to you. If you are honest with yourself and it has, then take a good hard look at the best role model we could ever have and see how He managed to change the world without having held even one title.

Reference: Luke 5:27-28 (New Living Testament)