How To ‘Flameproof’ Your Career
By Dr. Rick Warren
“You are about the most flameproof person in this office.” Those words from the boss, indicating that her job was safe, brought understandable relief to the receptionist of a corporation that was engaged in major downsizing. Despite the turmoil some of her coworkers were facing, she took some comfort in feeling “flameproof.”
As the global economy continues the struggle, many companies are still finding it necessary to reduce their workforces so they can retain or regain a competitive position in highly challenging times. In such an uncertain environment, knowing how to “flameproof” your career is a wise job skill!
KEEP YOUR CAREER EVEN IF YOU ARE TERMINATED.
You might not be able to flameproof your present job, but you can and should flameproof your career in a long-term sense. We find a good example of this in the Bible’s Old Testament:
In the book of Genesis, we read about Joseph, the faithful man in with the amazing multi-colored dream coat (a gift from his father) who twice was knocked off the corporate ladder. First, he landed in a pit and later in a prison. His brothers on the family board of directors gave the first shove. Later his boss’s wife made false accusations that resulted in Joseph being put behind bars. Not exactly the ideal path to take for corporate advancement.
However, Joseph knew how to flameproof his career and ended up on the top rung of the biggest ladder in Egypt. In fact, he later forgave his brothers for their betrayal with these words: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” (Genesis 50:20).
KEEP YOUR CHARACTER BY KEEPING PRIDE IN CHECK.
Pride inhibits service and stops the flow of God’s grace (His unmerited, undeserved favor) in your direction. “God (and many others) resist the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Pride has a tendency to distort one’s view of reality that amounts to blindness. Another consequence of pride is that it gives motivation and ammunition for your enemies to seek to bring about your downfall.
KEEP YOUR CHARACTER BY KEEPING YOUR PROMISES.
People that are promise keepers end up in the big tent on the holy hill! “He…who keeps his oath even when it hurts” (Psalms 15:1,40). Remember, it is much easier to keep your promises if you make fewer of them – then it is more likely you will be able to hold true to every one that you do make. Character grows fastest when difficult to honor promises are kept with the “little people” in our lives – those individuals that seem “less important” to our goals and desires, yet are just as deserving of our integrity.
KEEP YOUR CHARACTER BY TREATING EVERYBODY LIKE AN ANGEL.
“Never…refuse to extend your hospitality…sometimes men have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). You never know who will end up being your boss. There is a saying that we should be careful who we step on as we climb up the corporate ladder – they might pass us on our way back down! Never fret when people that use others get ahead, because they usually end up losing their head. “I once knew a wicked man who was like a tyrant; he towered over everyone…but later I passed by, and he wasn’t there; I looked for him, but couldn’t find him.”
