Better to be Ordinary

Scripture:
Better to be ordinary and work for a living
than act important and starve in the process.
Proverbs 12:9

Observation: Several of the proverbs in this section address the topic of simply doing good work. On the positive side of the proverb is this ... it is good to simply do good, ordinary, honorable work. On the negative side of the proverb is this ... it is bad to pursue fanciful ideas or to seek over-promotion, and thus fail to earn a living.

Application: Yesterday, I had my performance appraisal at work. I am often aware of the fact that the work I now do is different than the work I had been doing during the prior decade. Before, I was a leader, overseeing dozens (sometimes hundreds) of employees, and millions of dollars. Now, I am near the bottom of any 'org chart', and I am the one random people may simply call and assign work to. And once again my boss brought up the idea that her, her manager, and their vice president have discussed the idea I should move into management. You know, if I want to. This is the third time during my last three performance reviews she has brought up this subject, and she has brought it up another half-dozen times in other conversations.

It is flattering. And that's a problem. I need to be content with being ordinary, and just doing work. In this, I make a very good living, one that the Lord has blessed and that he uses to bless others. I have no need to act - or feel - important in any way. I don't need to witlessly chase any other fancy idea. I want my well-done work to be its own reward. On that last note, I sincerely want to do good work, knowing it can honor the Lord far more than anything else I can do.

Today's proverbs are a timely reminder that I will never, ever seek promotion again without a very explicit word of God. I am fine with ordinary.

Prayer: Lord, one of the things I wish I did better, was to spend more time meditating on you and your word, in prayer with you, than to think about how great I could be, or remember past titles and promotions, or daydream about fictional success. I desire to be a success at being a disciple of Christ, and to do so within the context of the blessings you have so generously given me. I am content in your hands, dear Lord. Amen.