“Resumés”

 

“Resumés”

 

One of the key steps in applying for employment is preparation of a resumé. This is a summary of one’s life information, qualifications for the position sought, experience and references which is submitted for consideration by a hiring person or group. Since it’s usually the first document presented its importance can’t be overemphasized and for this reason professionals are often engaged to write it on behalf of an applicant. Over the years in my lead pastor role I’ve reviewed many in order to fill church staff vacancies. And I’ve prepared a number of them for myself for specific situations. Some have been effective, others have likely been placed in File 13.

The term is also used in a biographical sense listing the traits marking a person’s character. We can see this in Scripture in both negative and positive ways. Diotrephes, for example, is described as one who “…loves to be first…(gossips) maliciously…(and) refuses to welcome (traveling teachers)….” to the point of expelling those who opposed him from the church (3 John 9-10). (How would his resumé be viewed by a Pastoral Search Team?) By contrast Joses, better known by his nickname Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37) is portrayed by Dr. Luke as “…a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith….” with the result that “…a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24). And in Psalm 78, a summary of Israel’s history written by Asaph, a temple worship leader during the days of David and Solomon, it says “(God) took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants—God’s own people Israel. He cared for them with a pure heart and led them with skillful hands.” (Psalm 78:71-72, NLT). Resumés like these two would be at the top of any church’s list of potential pastors.

As I’ve read of these men as well as others like King Saul, Israel’s later rulers and Herod and his descendants (ungodly leaders) and Abraham, Moses, Paul and many more men and women who glorified God by their words and actions a question came to mind: If God were to write my resumé what would it say? I pray it’d be like Jesus’ words to Mary, Lazarus’ sister (John 12:1-3), whom He defended before those who criticized her actions by saying, “She did what she could.” (Mark 14:8)—in other words, “She honored Me in the best way she knew how.” What better resumé (or epitaph) could we want?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan