Purpose Study Bible 345: Preparation Precedes Promotion

The Persian king became the benefactor for Ezra and the Bible tells us the reason:

This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. . . . for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (Ezra 7:6, 9b-10).

Ezra wasn't selected to go back and instruct the people only to then begin to study the Law of Moses. Ezra had already devoted himself to becoming a skilled expert in the Law. Because he did, God opened a wide door for ministry, the legacy of which continues to this day. He was in the right place with the right purpose at the right time to do the right thing with his purpose assignment.

This story proves the point that God doesn't promote people who have potential; God entrusts greater responsibility to people who have developed what He has already given them. They first discover an area of interest or gifting and then devote themselves to developing it into all it can become. 

In what area has God gifted you? Where are you willing to pay the price to become the best that you can be, perhaps better than most others in that area? Are you waiting for God to promote you while He is waiting on you to do the prep work?

There's no such thing as an overnight success in the purpose of God. It's a partnership where you do what you can do, and then God opens doors that only He can open. You don't really know the upside of your potential until you start to develop it, so get started today, confident that God can do far more with your developed gifts than you can currently imagine.