Back in the 1970s a man named Laurence Peter developed a theory called “The Peter Principle.” It claimed that, within hierarchical organizations, individuals are regularly promoted past the point of their compentency. A man functions well enough at a certain level. But then he gets promoted to a positoin in which he is relatively incompetent. This is obviosuly to be avoided. And one way to avoid it is to abide by the teaching of James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom let him him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).
Now you can lack wisdom because you are simply unwise. Or you can lack wisdom because you have matured and advanced to new levels of responsibility. You are a wise man who has never faced this kind of battle before, and it is time to level-up. James has this latter example in mind because he adds that God gives liberally and upraids not. He means that God is a generous giver of wisdom, who will not find fault with you when you keep coming back to ask Him for more. When you do so, God supplies that wisdom and individuals, families, organizations, and communities rise to new levels of virtue, dominion, sanctification, and glory.
Now, anyone who has spent a good bit of time considering organizations or hierarchies will likely say, “Steady now. There is a lot of truth to that Peter principle. It is rare that people actually enlarge thier capacity and competency.” Granted, it is rare. But it is only rare becuase it is equally rare that men ask God in faith to give them wisdom. God stands ready to give you that wisdom and liberally so. But will you ask?
Jared Longshore – April 28, 2024
