April 10. Who Has Authority To Handle Today?

As a leader there are times that it is important that we have authority. It is just as important to give away authority. Do we only get or give away authority or could it be that it is lost, taken, sold, or stolen? I suspect that no one is excited about the idea of having their authority stolen.

Someone else using your authority without your permission is stealing authority. Losing your authority can happen because we are being careless with it. Carelessness with authority can mean that one has begun to not value it.

Celebrities sell their authority when they do endorsements for products and services. When businesses sell to new owners there is certainly some authority to transact business with the old customers. The transferability of authority is important in the leadership arena.

For our people to grow over time we are likely going to reach a point where giving some authority will be critical. We might think of authority in the metaphor of a vineyard. Do you give someone fruit authority? That could be a combination of authority to harvest, eat or sell the fruit.

We might give leaf authority. If you have leaf authority you collect the light for photosynthesis. Losing one leaf will not destroy the vine. You might give pruning authority which changes where the leaves grow and what part of the vine will be allowed to flourish.

Not every available shoot of the vine is important to keep. Excess vines rob the main system of energy and nutrients. Then there is the root authority. These decisions made with this level of authority are those that can kill the vine. We can grant authority at any of these levels.

The more we can give and grow authority out towards the fruit the better our teams and families will perform. What is an authority that you believe you need to be given? What is an area of authority that you could benefit by giving it away?

As a follower of Jesus, we have been granted authority in many ways. We have received authority to love others when we feel like they are an enemy. We have received it to love others as much as we love ourselves.

We have received it to use our unique talents and gifts to glorify God and build his kingdom here on earth. Are we using it to share the kingdom with those that do not know him? These might be areas that come to the top of our minds when thinking about authority.

But where are we not being intentional with authority. In Joshua 2:1, we read about Joshua sending out two scouts to bring back information about the land of Canaan. The scouts wind up being pursued and rescued by a woman named Rahab.

She hides them but does so only after negotiating with the scouts for her protection when they come back to conquer their land. I wonder if the scouts had the authority to make that grant. As a leader, had Joshua given them the authority to do anything to help themselves to survive being captured?

Our leadership in our journey of faith will influence others. That includes encouraging them and empowering them to use the authority that Jesus has given them. The authority that Christ has given is power that we all have to remind one another to use.

What authority are you failing to exercise because it might be a little uncomfortable to do so? Perhaps it is only your attitude that is keeping you from doing so. Just for today, consider being a little uncomfortable and share some of the authority Jesus has given you.

Let us pray, Jesus, thank you for the authority you have given us. We accept the baton of authority as you have handed it to us. When our hands are full of authority in this world, we ask you to help to discard them if they distract us from you. Grant us new authority to glorify the Father. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.