The Authority Drift

Those in authority must be careful not to abuse that authority and not to let it go to their heads.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   David’s might and power was evident in all the people’s eyes. When he became King of Israel officially, unifying the country by his deft abilities, everyone benefitted. He ruled with justice and equity and mercy and grace. He had the blessing of God on his life, He had been given a covenant par excellence from God. David was a loved leader. He was a proven leader. He was a popular leader. David was a powerful man. But beware of power and authority. It just so happened that David was on his roof one day, and he awoke from his nap. The text seems to indicate that he should have been with the military men, since the weather was now conducive to that sort of thing. The fight from the last chapter, still had some flare ups, it appears. And David sent Joab, his chief military man, to put an end to the skirmishes for good. But David stayed behind. Maybe it was nothing. But maybe David was out of place. Maybe David had grown lax. Whatever the reason, on that fateful day, David woke up from a nap, and strolled over to the edge of his balconied roof, and looked over his kingdom, and he happened to look down on someone and thought, “Mine.” His power and authority seeped into areas where it did not belong. Authority is a powerful drug unless we keep it in the right perspective. God is the one who sets up rulers…and he is also the one who knocks them down when they let their authority take over their heart and head. Now I don’t imagine many of you wield a King’s authority like David did, but authority comes in many shapes and degrees. The authority of a parent, a boss, an older sibling, a ministry leader, an expert in a certain area. We all have it at some level, and at different points in time, we all want more of it. So beware.