Today I will:
[Love] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6 (ESV)
There is a commodity in the workplace that many think money and authority follow: credit for a job well done. In fact, this commodity is so coveted that it is stolen more often than money. It seems every employee wants to be able to stand before their supervisor and say, "I was responsible for that" -whether it is true or not.
It seems obvious that if we are to walk in God's way, we must see that credit is given to those to whom it is due. Yet, as with many things, living by this principle is easier said than done. No matter how much teamwork may be preached as a company value, advancement is still based upon competition. To advance, we have to show we are better qualified than our coworkers. When a supervisor pats us on the back, it takes much more effort to let them know who really was responsible rather than just accepting the compliment with a smile and a thank you. Giving the impression that you were responsible for something that was only partially a result of your efforts is the same as lying. Besides, those who get ahead by taking credit for the accomplishments of others rarely stay ahead in the long run.
It is not where you are in the middle of the race that counts, but how you finish. In the midst of that race, while others may be doing whatever they can to get ahead, those who truly believe that promotion comes from the Lord (Psalm 75:6-7) will operate differently. Those whose hope is in the Lord will take pleasure in the truth because they know He is the One from whom true promotion comes.