Reliability Is Key To Growth At Any Endeavor

In review of Genesis 39:6a it says, “So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing — except what kind of food to eat!”

Bottom Line:

The goal should be to handle any responsibility you're given, such that your leadership doesn’t need to be worry or be concerned.

What this means to me:

One of the things I should continually strive toward is having my leadership say “I’m not worried about you and your team,” it communicates that I am reliable, trustworthy, steady and that they can count on me.

Genesis 39:6 says, “So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing — except what kind of food to eat!” (NLT)

Potiphar trusted Joseph and gave the former slave complete decision-making power, because he knew he could rely on him.

That’s why Joseph kept getting promoted, because all of his bosses could say, “I trust this guy with my life.” When he was in prison, the Bible says Joseph had favor with the warden, who put the entire prison under Joseph’s care. That’s how much the warden trusted Joseph, because he was reliable. He didn’t have to worry about anything with Joseph in charge.

Reliability is earning the trust of others by always keeping your promises and fulfilling your responsibilities, even if it requires sacrifice.

Given the example of a last minute project. What if a project is given with instructions that it needs to be done in 10 hours, and at 10 hours you’re only halfway through? Are you going to put in the extra time at personal expense to get it done? Or are you going to say, “Sorry — it’s someone else’s job” or “You should have given it to me sooner.”

Maybe that’s exactly what should have happened, but reliability means you get it done, even if it means sacrificing your time and putting in the extra effort. That earns the trust of other people.

Joseph knew how to be reliable. He got promoted because he fulfilled his responsibilities. He kept his word even if it meant personal hurt, loss, and sacrifice.

In my opinion, a reliable person is motivated, because they want to do their best. They know they are working for the Lord and not just a human leader.  This also reminds me of Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.” (NLT) It’s much better to make it easier to obey and not cause any problems for your leadership chain. This way they won’t have to worry or have any regrets about giving you this responsibility.

Today I should consider my current and past work. Can the same could be always be said of me.  One practical thing I can do this week is to go back over all of my follow-up emails and future projects to see if there is anything I can do to proactively react or plan for them. I should keep an eye on making sure that I fulfill any promises I have made, or think ahead on what deliverables I should plan for and provide them before they even ask for them. I want to be reliable in all that I have been entrusted with.

Becoming a Likeable Person

In review of Genesis 39:2-4 it says, “Joseph lived in the home of Potiphar, his Egyptian owner. Soon Potiphar realized that the LORD was helping Joseph to be successful in whatever he did. Potiphar liked Joseph and made him his personal assistant.”

Bottom Line:

The Lord was with Joseph, and gave him success in whatever he did. His master noticed this and also liked what Joseph was doing and as a result put him in charge of all he owned.

What this means to me:

When I do the very best I can in every situation, living in obedience and pursue God’s will, God will give me success. How I live my life in this manner can have an effect on how I’m viewed by others and can lead to favor and greater responsibilities.

In order to stand out, I need to be likeable, otherwise I won’t be trusted or even promoted.  One of the great fallacies of our culture is being likeable is just a matter of personality. Someone is either a likable person or their not.

What I’m learning is the likeability is not personality; it’s character. It’s behavior. It’s how I choose to relate to others. Likeability is possessing the attractive attitudes, and those are choices, and the relational skills that cause others to want to work with me.

Rick Warren explains that one of the biggest secrets to being liked by others is to just, “like them.” That’s it. If I like people, they’re likely going to like me in return. If I don’t like people, they probably won’t like me. To be likeable I just have to like others. I have to genuinely enjoy them. I have to choose to be interested in others and think less about myself.

Joseph is a good example of likeability in Genesis 39:2-4: “Joseph lived in the home of Potiphar, his Egyptian owner. Soon Potiphar realized that the LORD was helping Joseph to be successful in whatever he did. Potiphar liked Joseph and made him his personal assistant” (CEV). Potiphar took a guy who started off as a slave and promoted him to the manager of his household because he noticed he was a good person, and he liked him.

Consider humility, it’s one of the attractive attitudes that make someone likeable. Its much easier to be around someone who is humble than someone who is arrogant.

Another one is cheerfulness. It’s better to be around somebody who’s cheerful than someone who is grouchy.

One other is empathy. When you tell others that you’re not feeling well, would you rather they respond, “That’s too bad” or “I’m really sorry, what’s going on?” When you’re empathetic with someone who is hurting, it's much easier to be likeable. Leaders like people who are empathetic to their stress, who understand, who look at a situation from somebody else’s viewpoint.

In addition, when I help somebody else succeed, then I’m more likely to be likeable. When I’m likeable, I’ll end up going far.

In thinking this through this morning, I’d like for others to see me as helpful, caring and ultimately able to make a difference. Today I will consider some ways I can care for people in my workplace today. I will consider my character, behavior and how I relate. I’ll choose to be humble, cheerful and seek to help them succeed.

Greater Capacity Often Means Greater Responsibility

In review of Genesis 39:4-5 it says, “Potiphar … made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake.” 

Bottom Line:

Having a good attitude and handling your responsibilities well, will end up blessing not only yourself but others as well.

What this means to me:

If I do well in my responsibilities and handling what I have been given rightly, God will bless not only me but those around me.

Joseph handled his situation and what he was given well.  From what I see in scriptures, I never see Joseph grumble or complain, even though he went through some horrific events in his life. He just does the best with what he was given at the time. As he did well and prospered, he was granted with more responsibilities. He seems to have a potential to grow first in small things then in the larger things.

This morning, I’m considering what my own potential for growth is and what I am doing to grow toward the next steps. I need to consider what books next to read, what skills am I going to develop next. The goal is not be the same 10 years from today.

What I’m learning is that capacity is my potential for growth. It’s important because people who increase in competence are given greater responsibility in their work. All leaders are learners. The moment I stop learning, I stop leading. Growing businesses require growing people. The moment I stop growing, the business I’m responsible for can’t grow.

I need to develop a characteristic of continual growth and learning and not insisting on doing the same thing I’ve always done but instead trying new methods and coming up with new ideas.

This is what happened with Joseph. He grew in capacity by stretching himself and learning and growing. Genesis 39:4-5 says, “Potiphar … made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake” (NLT).

I need to consider if God is blessing the business I work for? Are they prospering because I’m there? Do I have that kind of capacity?

When Joseph was put in charge, the Lord began to bless Potiphar for Joseph’s sake. “All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished” (Genesis 39:5b). Joseph appeared to have the capacity to do well.

When Joseph was taken to Egypt as a slave, he wasn’t able to handle all that stuff. He had to learn how to manage livestock and a household. He had to learn and grow as he was given more responsibility.

If I stop learning new skills and say, “That’s all I need to know,” I’ll end up limiting my capacity. But if I keep learning, I’ll keep growing, and God will keep blessing.

I think one practical step I can take this week is to research some leadership books, podcasts or review prior materials I have gathered on leading large organizations. Today I pray that God show me how I can increase my capacity at work and for ways for me to grow personally and professionally.

Learning How to Face Fears and Indecision

In review of Proverbs 3:5-6 it says, “Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success.”

Bottom Line:

Trust the Lord completely and never rely only on what you think you know, remember to seek his will in all you do and he will direct you.

What this means to me:

I am to trust the Lord completely and stay away from relying on my own understanding. I am to put him first in my life, especially in light of making decisions.. for when I do so he will direct me.

At the root of my indecision is fear. Fear that I’ll make a mistake, embarrass myself or fear that I won’t be able to finish what I’ve started. Even fear that I’m not good enough.

Another big fear of mine in making decisions is the fear of disapproval. Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety” (TLB). What this verse reminds me of is that the moment I start worrying about what other people think, it’s over, because the fear of disapproval is always worse than the actual disapproval.

There’s only one way to get rid of that fear: Face it, and move against it. I do the thing I fear the most! At some point I’ve got to stop aiming and actually pull the trigger.

It appears that the only antidote to fear is faith. I need to step out in faith. I’ve got to trust God and start moving.

What I’m learning is that courage is not the absence of fear; courage is actually moving ahead in spite of any fears. If I wasn’t afraid, I wouldn’t need courage. Courage comes because I’m scared to death, but I also believe it’s what God wants me to do, so I go ahead and do it anyway.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success” (NCV).

This verse reminds me that God will support those who move in faith. So here’s the question I need to ask myself: Where do I need to trust God? I haven’t really trusted him until I’ve attempted something I can’t do on my own power.

Today I need to consider if there are any decisions that I need to prepare to make. I should seriously take these and reference it to his word, pray for his guidance and even get counsel, then step out in faith. My choices will ultimately determine my character and my destiny. So I’ll need to commit myself to the Lord, and then he will give me the wisdom and courage to make the decision that will bring me closer to who he made me to be.

In summary, I need to trust God and not myself. I am to put him first in everything I do. When I do he will guide me.

Learning How to Count the Cost Before Committing

In review of Proverbs 20:25 it says, “It is foolish and rash to make a promise to the Lord before counting the cost.”

Bottom Line:

It is foolish to make a promise before carefully considering all of the costs.

What this means to me:

I shouldn’t allow myself to fall into the trap of making a promise, especially to the Lord, without really considering the full cost of that promise to myself and the life of those around me.

Whenever there is a major decision to make, Scripture reminds me to count the cost: “It is foolish and rash to make a promise to the Lord before counting the cost” (Proverbs 20:25 TLB).

Every decision has a price tag. So I need to consider what my decision will cost in four areas of my life: time, money, energy, and relationships.

What I’m learning is that it’s ok to not commit immediately to anything, but rather tell others, “I’ll get back to you.” It is OK to ponder and count the full cost. I shouldn’t allow myself to be pressured, because there is a law of life that Proverbs and Ecclesiastes teach: It’s always easier to get in than get out.

For instance, it’s easier to get in debt than out of debt. It’s easier to get into a relationship than out of a relationship. It’s easier to fill your schedule than fulfill your schedule. And it’s always easier to get in than get out.

Luke 14:28-29 reminds me that, “If you want to build a tower, you first sit down and decide how much it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don’t, you might lay the foundation, but you would not be able to finish. Then all who would see it would make fun of you” (NCV).

So a key question to ask when I’m making a major decision: Is it worth the cost to me? And then count that cost before I ever commit.

One area I don’t always consider is how much energy it will take to fulfill the commitment I’m making. Making a commitment can zap any of my available energy.

However, being a natural “people pleaser” it’s not always easy for me to tell other to “Let me think about it”. Sometimes I think they will just pressure me even further, however this is only a projection I place and not necessarily what they may say. I just don’t give them the chance.

In summary I’m thinking I should consider what kind of decisions would constitute making a significant investment in cost worth it to me? So, in my brief time this morning, what comes to mind are the things that will further the kingdom and his purposes.  In my life I have plenty of examples where people I know have made significant decisions that have cost them, however, these decisions have helped them make a difference for the kingdom.  I should look to their examples and outcomes as I make these kinds of kingdom commitments.

Steps to Take Before Making a Major Decision

In review of Proverbs 2:6-7 it says, “It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest.”

Bottom Line:

Wisdom, knowledge and understanding come from the Lord, he provides help and protection to those who obey him and protects all of those who live as they should.

What this means to me:

God grants wisdom, knowledge and understanding. In my obedience to him, he provides the help and the protection I need,

When facing a tough decision about what to do with my job, I can look to the wealthiest businessman who ever lived, he wrote two books of the Bible, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and spread his wisdom about wealth and work.

There are three steps I can learn from Solomon’s wisdom in Proverbs that apply to any kind of major decision I need to make.

First, check the Bible. Before I get anybody else’s perspective on what I’m going to do, I’ll need to go to the Word, and get God’s perspective. The Bible says in Proverbs 2:6-7, “It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest” (TEV).

Next, get the facts. Proverbs 18:13 says, “What a shame — yes, how stupid! — to decide before knowing the facts!” (TLB) It is easy to get disillusioned and persuaded by my desires. It is important to fully check things out and not make a decision based on desires only.

Then, ask for advice. I need to talk to people who’ve made a similar decision and more importantly those who know my shape. They can help answer “Am I really shaped to do this or not? Is this me or is it not me?” Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without advice plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed” (GW).

One of the reasons I don’t usually ask for advice is I don’t always want to admit that I don’t know all the answers. However humility and wisdom go together. When I’m prideful and think I know it all, I’m more likely to fail. To make a wise decision and be successful, I need to first check the Bible, then research the facts, and finally ask advice from people who have experience and know my shape.

It’s important to make decisions based on my shape, as my gifting and passions make all the difference in how I will execute and live with the decision I’m making.  Given my recent move, it will be important for me to develop new relationships, ones who I can trust to give me advice about my job and work related matters.

I realize this morning that I’ve likely made some recent decisions without first looking at the word and getting advice.  I need to be sure that I’m using the full wisdom that God offers, beyond promptings, but with actual direction from his word confirmed with facts and advice of others.

Learning to Take a Step of Faith at Work

In review of Ecclesiastes 11:4 it says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

Bottom Line:

If you wait for things to be perfect, you’ll never get started.

What this means to me:

If I wait for conditions to be just right or wait for things to change, I’ll never end up moving forward or accomplishing things.

Rick Warren mentioned that In 2012 a world record was set when Felix Baumgartner took the highest leap ever attempted with a 24-mile-high free fall from space that broke the sound barrier. That seems like a giant step of faith!

At some point God will ask me to take a big step of faith as I do the things he created me to do. I’ll probably never be asked to take as big of a step as Baumgartner above, but it may feel like it when changing employment or where to live.

The Bible mentions in Ecclesiastes 11:4, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (TLB).

Rick Warren also mentions his friend, Mark Burnett, who is one of the most successful television producer in Hollywood today. He’s got top shows across several networks and created hits like “Survivor,” “Celebrity Apprentice,” and “The Voice.” He’s also a devout Christian.

When Rick asked Mark about stepping out in faith with an idea or something new, he told him this: “The fact that you don’t know exactly what to do is OK. I have a philosophy I call ‘jump in,’ which says that those who need to know with 100 percent certainty before going forward won’t do anything. You won’t get married, and you certainly won’t change jobs or start a business. I think it’s OK to be 30, 40, or 50 percent sure and figure out the rest of it. The philosophy of ‘jump in’ means that even if you’re not sure you can swim, swim anyway.”

So, given this if I wait to solve all the problems before I start, I’ll never get started. This is much like parenting; nobody knows how to be a parent! The Children come, and then you figure it out as you go. Likewise, I need to take a step of faith at some point in order to move toward what God means for me to do.

There is no guarantee on this earth that I’m going to succeed at anything. However when I step out in faith, trusting in God and pursuing his work for me through my shape, he promises me this in Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed.”

Today’s verse relates a lot to my work today and finding resources. I keep waiting to see what other candidates will come across, delaying my decisions. This delay has already affected me once with a resource taking another role by the time I came around to talking to them. While it’s important to wait, waiting too long or being paralyzed with fear about making a decision can be detrimental. I’ll just need to learn to consult with God more on my decisions at work and then move forward based on the promptings I receive from him.