LifeLink Devotions

Friday, December 15, 2023

“You’re overqualified.” I’ve never had an employer tell me that, but maybe you have. You’ve done a great job in the interview and think you have a superb chance of landing the job, only to have the Human Resources director tell you, “You’re overqualified.” According to a Wall Street Journal article, that’s bologna. The real reason they won’t hire you may be one of the following:

• You’re too expensive and wouldn’t even consider working for the pay we will likely offer.
• You are set in your ways, will come with baggage and bad habits, and won’t do things our way. 
• You’ll be a “know it all pain in the butt” who intimidates the manager and the staff.
• You may take this position, but the moment the market turns or you get an offer at your previous level, you’ll leave, so why go through that pain?

What all these things expose is this – the company you have applied to doesn’t really want to improve. They have become ingrown and self-protective. It’s good you found that out now. You don’t want to work for them under those conditions. Any good, growing, and visionary company will jump at the chance to hire “overqualified” people and improve their market position. They will create opportunities for you to use your skills and accomplish bigger and better things.

Isaiah 49:5-6 “And now the LORD says… “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

When the LORD declares the primary purpose of the coming Messiah – to restore the nation of Israel – He says, “You are fully qualified.” God says, “The first task I have assigned does not fulfill my total vision for my Kingdom. Therefore, I am adding duties to your job description.” God didn’t limit the growth of His “company” to just one small nation, but rather He brought salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus came to fulfill God’s total purpose and He was qualified to do it.

What about us? Are we allowing God to write the job descriptions of our lives so they fulfill His purpose and our potential? What about our church? Are we ingrown and self-protective when we should be visionary and growing? You may have been the manager of a ministry in your church for years when God sends an “overqualified” person to assist you. Your fears of being replaced overwhelm your vision of ministry growth and you become protective of your position. 

We must guard our hearts in this area. We must not become prideful and protective of what we are doing. I pray that we would be humble enough to let Jesus reign as the Head of His church and let Him provide the people He knows we need to accomplish His purpose, and that we would rejoice when He does. 

Pastor John