The Peter Principle

Dear friends, don't be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing
that is like walking through fire.

– 1 Peter 4:12

Its brilliance lies in its frankness and simplicity.

Its the Peter Principle, the hypothesis introduced by Dr. Laurence Peter and Raymond Hull that asserts that in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his or her level of incompetence. Dr. Peter also observed that work in an organization is actually accomplished by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence.

If you’ve ever been a cubical-dweller in corporate America or a fan of the comic strip Dilbert, you know that Dr. Peter was onto something. On the other hand, many people have legitimately

worked their way through the ranks and earned their way to the top. But once they made it, the experience sometimes defied their expectations. Challenges arose, problems materialized and the limelight of prestige began to burn. That once sought-after corner office quickly became a place of tension and anxiety. 

If opposition and distraction are what many people face once they attain success (as the world defines it), what's it like for Christ-followers who strive for life's real measure of accomplishment: faithfulness to God? For the Lord’s perspective on the matter, let’s consider what we might call the 1 Peter Principle.  

The Bible teaches that those who’ve accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior can also expect opposition. In fact, they can count on it. The key to enduring the onslaught is learning how to recognize the opposition, and then turning it to an advantage — and all while placing our hope in God.

It's important to understand that this opposition will always bring added challenges. But the life-long habits we develop as Christ-followers — such as consistent prayer, Bible study and regular time with other believers — will prove themselves worthwhile many times over. It's like the long-distance runner, whose car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. That’s a desperate scenario for many people. But for those who have trained and prepared, that 5-mile jog to the nearest gas station is a mere inconvenience.

The challenges that Christ-followers face are also sure to bring testing. Maybe it's a layoff at work, an illness in the family or an unanticipated, budget-busting expense. Whatever it is, we can respond by either giving up … or placing our faith in our Creator to see us through the storm. Real faith and hope will stand strong to the end. But what's false is bound to fail. As the Bible puts it, "blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him."

Is your faith-journey’s ladder to the top shaky or rock-solid? And if you’ve already landed that hard-earned promotion, are you finding that the view isn’t quite what you expected? If so, maybe it’s time to talk to The Boss:  

“I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give,” Jesus reminds his followers. “It isn't like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid.”