What does your attitude toward your boss say about you?
READ IT - Today’s chapter: 1 Samuel 26
One of my kids’ rooms is decorated with a sports theme, and sitting in his room is a basketball signed by the Harlem Globetrotters. I bought it for ten bucks at a charity auction we had in the office once when I worked at Adidas.
We have other balls we leave outside in the mud, allow the dog to chew on, and play with all the time. This ball, however, is treated with honor. When you honor something, you treat it as precious because you value it. While our other balls live in a basket in the garage, this one resides inside and is preserved by a little plastic case.
Sometimes we seem to have an easier time honoring an autographed basketball than certain people. Most of us don’t like to be under someone else’s authority – whether it’s our boss, a parent, a teacher, or the officer directing traffic in a school zone. It’s human nature to want to call our own shots. None of us especially like being told what to do.
David knew the importance of honoring those in authority over him. For a second time now, he doesn’t usurp King Saul when given the opportunity. He has learned there is a direct correlation between rebellion and pain. He knows it is in his own best interest to respect and submit to authority. Rather than taking matters into his own hands, he determines to allow God to deal with Saul and open the door for him to become king in His own timing.
David knew that before he could lead, he had to learn to follow. I’ve adopted that as my litmus test for potential leaders. For example, suppose someone new to church wants to immediately be allowed to lead a small group, even though they have never attended one. If they’re not first willing to submit to authority and follow someone else, then I don’t want them in a position of leadership.
When I encounter a person who thinks he/she has a right to lead, or who undermines others in leadership, or who is continually complaining about his manager or gossiping about her boss, then I recognize this is a person who has a problem with authority.
That’s a big deal because people who have problems with human authority figures always have trouble submitting to God. (Tweet this!) It stems from their lack of honor for those over them. Their rebellion against the leaders in their lives reflects a key problem in the way they relate to God.
What about you? What is your attitude toward those in authority over you? Are you content with what your level of submission to them says about your level of submission to God?
DO IT
Be intentional about showing honor for an authority figure in your life today. Let them know you appreciate what they do and respect their efforts. As you pray, ask God to reveal any thread of rebellion in your heart and deal with it.
- From today's devotional at ReadItAndDoIt.com