PROVERBS 22:29

**Before we begin today's devotion, a quick apology. We are aware that the LifeWay website has been down for most of Sunday and part of Monday. We have been working with the website developers to rectify the situation and everything now seems to be back on track. Unfortunately, it did mean that our daily verses for Sunday and Monday were not able to be published as usual. We apologise for the inconvenience and hope you are blessed by today's devotion which begins with Proverbs 22:29 below.

Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

TO PONDER

I used to live in Canberra. Canberra is a place where a lot of people work in various branches of public service. Having lived in Canberra for about 12 years, I couldn't help but make friends with at least a few people who worked for either the local or federal government. One thing they all say is true of the public service which seems contrary to today's verse was, 'incompetence gets promoted out'.

What they were suggesting is that the fastest and easiest way for 'middle management' in the public service to deal with people who were underperforming in their roles was not to giving them better training or coaching or even to begin the process of workplace discipline which might lead to termination of employment, but rather, the easiest thing to do was promote them out of your area and make them the next supervisors problem.

I think our Bible verse has two things to say about that approach. Given that Proverbs is a book of wise sayings, I suspect that the common practice of promoting problem workers out of your department would be classified as 'unwise'. It also is not a good example of leadership. A skilled leader would not just pass the problem on to someone else, they would work towards a solution that improved the situation for everybody.

But it also brings to mind Jesus' parable about the three servants, whose master gave to each, a different amount of gold and told them to take care of his wealth while he went away on a trip. Two servants used the wealth wisely and grew the wealth through wise investment and shrewd management. The other failed to do anything with what he had been given because he was afraid of losing it and displeasing the master.

A question to consider then today is this; What gifts, talents, wealth, or skills has God given you? How are you using those things with skill to grow and develop them into something that can be used in creative ways not only by yourself and for your benefit, but how are you bringing those things before the king for him to use in his kingdom?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for all the ways that you have blessed me and given me skills and abilities with which to serve you. Please help me to be a faithful steward of all the gifts you have given and help me to use them with wisdom to bring glory to you and to help others see you alive in me. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle