Authority: When to use it, and when to hold it back
1 Corinthians 9:12 (Modern Translation of the Wycliffe Bible)
If others are partners of your authority, do we not have even more right to do the same?
But we do not exercise this authority. Instead, to keep us from hindering the gospel of Christ, we endured everything.
A gold card membership with an airline allows you to move to the front of the line at the ticket counter, and when it is time to board the airplane.
A Fast Pass allows you to go to the front of the line at all the Disney World rides.
When you know the owner of the restaurant personally, he may choose to give you special treatment, perhaps even give you the best he has to offer, as a gift.
But what do you do if you are traveling with a group of friends? Have you ever been in a situation where you were authorized to enjoy a special benefit, but chose not to?
The Corinthians owed Paul their very lives for the sacrifices he made to bring them the Good News. If it weren’t for him, they would have gotten what they deserved. But God doesn’t want us to give us what we deserve… so He sends us His messengers to show us the way to His House.
Paul could have asked anything of the Corinthians… and they would be obliged to give it to him.
Like Paul, we may have the badge, the lanyard or the signed authorization in our pocket.
Or the favor we can call on at any time… or the perfect accusation or lever to get what we want from a friend.
As it was with Paul, so it is with us: just because we have authority, doesn’t mean that we have to use it.
For the sake of those beside us, sometimes the most loving thing we can do, is to leave the token of authority, right there in our pocket.
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