Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Exceeding Expectations


Don’t you just love getting a performance review? Perhaps not....if most people were honest, they would tell you that sitting down with your supervisor or leader and receiving a written review with scores and evaluation metrics can be a little unnerving.
Back when I was working at Ford, they changed the performance review process and the ‘best’ grade that a person could get for a while was ‘exceeds expectations’. At that time, only a few people received that grade. The majority received a review that said they ‘fully met expectations’ and of course their were a few that ‘needed improvement’.
Did you know that as Christians, true Christ-followers, we also will receive a performance review? The Bible teaches us that all of us will die and that after death comes a judgment (Hebrews 9:27) In addition, the Apostle Paul said, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Cor 5:10)
We may not think too much about the idea of being judged or given a grade but I believe that Jesus talked about it when he gave us the parable of the talents. One person was given five, one was given two and one only one. After the master returned, those that were given five and two had earned five and two more respectively.
These two faithful people were given their performance review. The master told them they had done well and He put them in charge of many things.
The one that was unfaithful dug a hole in the ground and hid the money and returned what he had been given. His performance review didn’t go too well. No silver star, no ‘atta-boy' for this person, it was back to hard labor.
While it may be difficult to think of us being judged we should all understand that we are accountable. One of my favorite verses is Luke 12:48 where it says, “Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.”
We have all been given very much. We live in one of the most prosperous countries of the world and have been given many talents....gifts from God that are to be used for His glory.
Don't dig a hole and hide what God has in you. Exceed your expectations and the expectations of those around you and you'll not be nervous when you get your performance review.

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