ACE #381: Play Your Position

Lately, I have been studying the dynamics of organizational administration, while being realistic about my own career trajectory.  I have come to the conclusion that there are three positions that exist in any organization:

1.  The Inner Circle - The person in this position has access to the workings of the organization and often has some level of decision-making power or influence within the organization that likely affects others.
2.  The Outsider Within - Derived from feminist thought, the person in this position is not a member of the inner circle, rather he/she is what I would say is "inner circle adjacent"; there is access to the inside information because this individual has a relationship with someone in the inner circle.
3.  The Outsider - The person in this position is completely "out of the loop" in every area of the organization.

Furthermore, there is always an "A-Team" and a "B-Team" in most workplaces.  The "A-Team" gets to influence the decisions, while the "B-Team" has to live with the decisions that the "A-Team" makes.

Here's a word for you, beloved, whatever team you are on, just always follow #TeamJesus. It is about how Jesus views your performance.  Refuse to mistreat people, function in a spirit of integrity, treat others well, and be a good steward over whatever God has given you.  

When Joseph was imprisoned, the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph initially, but only after two years had passed.  The two-year delay was  not a denial for Joseph.  He received his reward by being appointed by the Pharaoh as the second in command in all of Egypt.  The delay wasn't just for Joseph - it was also for the survival of a multitude of people to live through the severe seven-year famine that would occur unbeknownst to them.  It was Joseph's spiritual gifts and skills that preserved all of them.

You might not see the rewards now, the promotion might not be around the corner and the raise might not even be in view, but God is always mindful of your service, your labor, your faith, and your seeds!  People might forget you, but God will always remember you. So in the meantime - play your position...whatever it is.

Joseph in Charge of Egypt
⁴¹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” ⁴² Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command,^[b] and people shouted before him, “Make way^[c]!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
⁴⁴ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” ⁴⁵ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,^[d] to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. ⁴⁷ During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. ⁴⁸ Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. ⁴⁹ Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
⁵⁰ Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. ⁵¹ Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh^[e] and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” ⁵² The second son he named Ephraim^[f] and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
⁵³ The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, ⁵⁴ and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. ⁵⁵ When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”
⁵⁶ When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. ⁵⁷ And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.