Abuse of Authority

Verse:

Woe to those who device iniquity, and work out evils on their beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. 

Therefore you will have no one to determine boundaries by lot in the congregation of the Lord.

(Micah 2:1, 5)

Message of the day:

There are always difficult people around us. It is natural for a person in authority who deals with so many people to feel disturbed at the end of the day. About the subordinate who did not complete the project on time, the assistant who did not prepare the report properly, the associate who did not finish his part of the job and so on. As we retire to our beds, we might feel tensed and filled with so many emotions towards that person who did not perform and/or live up to the mark of our expectations.

We might start thinking about ways to deal with that person. We take certain decisions. At the end of it we might say to ourselves and/or the person “nothing personal”. We do need to take actions or corrective measures against a person who underperforms or is at fault. But what motivates our decisions? We took that decision because we were hurt or we were disturbed or his/her actions affected our reputation, our ego? Or because we felt insecure? Did we try talking to that person and give him/her a chance to explain him/herself?

The authority that we posses is that which we have received from God, says the Bible. And though we are in certain ways accountable to those above us, in all ways we are accountable to God, because the authority is ultimately from Him and He is the one who can see deep into our hearts & minds. Authority without accountability leads to atrocity.

Let us not misuse the authority that we posses. This is not only about the power or position that we hold at our work places, but also in our families and with our friends. In some way or the other we have authority and influence over the life of so many people in and around us. Let us be careful in our decisions. Let not our decisions destroy someone, but only develop them!

There is also a consequence of abuse of authority according to the Bible. We will be left alone, having no one to stand by us & with us to empathize. What a terrible thing it would be to have no one in our life?

Prayer:

Lord, I thank you for the position and the power that you have given me. Help me never to misuse it for my own sake. But help me to use it to build people. Forgive all my wrong decisions that I took in the past and I pray that in Your own Sovereign way repair those that have affected the lives of others. I commit myself to be accountable to You for the authority that I have received. In Jesus name, Amen.