Since God is the absolute authority overall His creation, any person who has authority or a leadership position whether over a marriage, children, company, church, or a nation is under God’s delegated authority. Everyone is accountable to how they lead whether they like it, agree with it, believe it, or not. In this devotional we will examine how a God-given, healthy authority should function and in the next devotional we will discuss how an unhealthy authority functions.
Healthy Authority
1. Is accountable: A healthy authority understands that they are accountable to God and someday they will give an account to how they used their power over people. There are many scriptures where Jesus spoke about the owner coming back and holding the manager of his estate accountable to what had transpired.
2. Defines Responsibility: A healthy authority defines the responsibility of the delegated authority. God was very clear what He expected of Adam and Eve. Jesus was very clear with His disciples in Matthew 28 in the Great commission what He is expecting His disciples to be doing after He left the earth.
3. Sets boundaries and consequences: A healthy authority sets clear boundaries and establishes consequences for not staying within the boundaries. The Lord was very specific with Adam and Eve that He didn’t want them to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and if they did, they will die. While Jesus gave us the authority to go after the lost and disciple people, He is expecting a believer to live a Godly lifestyle. He also establishes boundaries of a godly life, and He describes the consequences of not living that life. Good parents do that with their children. They define the boundaries clearly, but they also establish consequences for not staying within the boundaries.
4. Gives freedom: Now that the playing field is clearly lined, God gives great freedom to operate within the set boundaries. The scripture in Psalm 16:6 tells us, “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.” This is the place of operating in our gifting, ability, and enjoy our God given authority and also be content with what we have been assigned. We have the Bible to clearly define our boundaries, and then we have the Holy Spirit who guides us in all truth and wisdom as we seek Him.
5. Seeks Counsel: A healthy authority recognizes that in order to be successful in what they do, they need God’s counsel as well as man’s counsel.
Proverbs 20:18: Plans are established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war.
6. Serves people: A healthy authority understands they are here to serve the people under them.
And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:24-28
Jesus was not looking for a worldly authority. He was sent by the Lord to establish God’s authority, and He set the example by serving people and laying down His life for them.
7. A healthy authority is wise, just, and equitable towards its subjects.
Proverbs 1:3: To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity.
This is so critical. Every person under one’s authority belongs to the Lord, and we need to see them as very important. The Lord wants each person to be treated with wisdom, justice, and equity. When God asked Solomon what he desired, he only asked for wisdom because he understood the immensity of the task before him. Solomon knew those people were great people because they belonged to God. (1Kings 3:9)
Can you imagine if each authority understood this principle deeply, how a family, a community, or nation can change? I think, each leader would be more on his/her knees seeking God’s counsel and wisdom and do less talking or making empty promises.
God’s heart is for a healthy authority to be established because people are important to Him. Everything God created God declared good, and after He created Adam and Eve, God declared them very good. God established His authority on the earth, and it is His desire that what He has created, is taken care of very well and according to His principles. A good authority is established to be a blessing to people under it and to enable them to function in their God-given roles as well. A picture of a healthy family is a great example of authority where parents love each other. They understand each of their roles well and then raise their children with love, care, and protection helping their children to grow into maturity. They recognize that some day the same task will be demanded of their children when they grow up to become responsible adults.
Let’s thank God for every healthy authority and pray that in any area of authority that God has set us over, we are being good stewards of the privilege and responsibility given us.