We determine whether someone is ready for responsibility by judging his character and actions against the responsibility he already has. If our children have shown character by listening and following instructions, they have proved themselves enough that we can entrust them with greater responsibility. They can have that first knife, shoot the gun, handle the hot stove, or drive the car. The same is true on the job. When interviewing for a job, the man who is hiring wants to know about your past, not out of mere curiosity, but because he wants to evaluate your ability to handle the responsibility for which you are applying. How you have handled things in the past–experience–gives insight into whether or not you have the character and competence to rise to the challenge of new responsibilities.
This is the process of maturity, and God built it into his design for creation. He demonstrates it in creation itself as it matures over six days. Man, the one God created to lead the creation, was himself to mature, moving from glory to glory. He was to demonstrate that he could handle basic responsibilities before moving to greater responsibilities. Smaller responsibilities trained or disciplined him to keep moving up.
The eternal Son of God became incarnate as the Second Adam to mature into the man who could handle the glory of being seated at the right hand of the Father to rule the created order. Luke tells us that Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Lk 2:52). Hebrews says that Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered so that he could be perfected or matured into a faithful high priest (Heb 5:8-9). As Jesus was faithful with the responsibilities his Father gave him in each stage of life, the Father gave him more responsibilities. Jesus moved from glory to glory.
In John 17, Jesus petitions the Father, “Glorify me” (Jn 17:1-5). He is asking the Father to give him the dominion over the world promised to him. But is he ready? Jesus believes he is. He completed the work the Father gave him to do (Jn 17:4), which involved revealing the Father’s name to the men the Father gave him out of the world (Jn 17:6). The Father gave him these men so that he could prove himself to be a faithful steward of the Father’s gift. Jesus has been faithful. He has revealed the Father’s name. As Yahweh revealed his name by delivering the children of Israel from Egypt (Ex 3, 6), so through his words and works, Jesus has demonstrated the Father’s saving power to these men. He has kept the Father’s gift, having been a faithful steward. What he did with these men and in this small part of the world, he is ready to do for the entire created order. He is ready for more glory.
Jesus didn’t use the disciples to climb the “glory ladder” so that he might have power as an end in itself. Jesus has shown the Father’s saving love to these men, and he is now ready to show that love for the world. He wanted more responsibility so that he could expand the kingdom to fulfill the Father’s purpose for the world.
We may be reluctant to pray for more glory. American Christians, especially, have been told that to seek more power, authority, or wealth is a worldly pursuit. However, seeking these things is the mission of dominion. We need “tools” to accomplish the task God has given us to make the world fruitful. Just as Jesus wanted more so that he could do more for the kingdom, we should desire more so that we may do more for the kingdom.
There is nothing wrong with ambition and the desire to have more. That should be our default because, again, that is what dominion is about: using our power/authority over the world to make it fruitful and enjoy its fruits. We should be praying like Jesus to be glorified.
However, responsibility (“glory”) flows to people who have proven themselves to be competent and dependable. Many people want to fix the country, but they can’t even bring order to their own lives. Many times, the people who are the most vocal and insistent are the ones with individual and family lives that are in disarray. These types grasp for glory, but they aren’t ready for it. They haven’t learned faithfulness in the small things, so they are not ready for greater responsibilities.
Focus on the responsibilities God has given you. Work on your personal character. If you have a family, make sure it is in order before you try to arrange everyone else’s life. If you have a job, do it with diligence. As you handle the smaller responsibilities, God will, in his good time, move you to another stage of glory.