An important lesson I learned today is that having authority is supposed to cost me, not benefit me.
Luke 12:48 says:
“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”
The lesson came from a sermon that I listened to on my walk today titled The Child’s Responsibility to the Parents by Paul Washer. Here is a direct quotation of what he shared:
You know, anytime I teach on authority or I teach on something like submission, whether it be a wife honoring her husband or children honoring their parents, it’s a frightening thing to teach on it. Why? Well, this is the reason. I have met in my life so many self-centered, power-hungry, legalistic husbands and fathers who love to use these types of teachings in order just to literally enslave their wives and children and their spirit, their heart, everything about them is totally contrary, totally contrary to the lordship of Jesus Christ, his compassion, his love, his mercy.
When we talk about, you know, a certain person should submit to another person and that some persons have been given authority, those who have been given authority ought to have great fear because to whom much is given, much is required. If you have been given a wife, know that she is a daughter of God and God will deal with you one day. If you have been harsh with her, if you have used her for your own promotion, God will deal with you.
And know this, if you’re a father, your children are to obey you. But if you have been harsh, manipulative, coercive, managing everything in your home just by sheer power, God will deal with you one day and you need to be afraid. Repent now.
Reconcile yourself with your enemy before you go to court because you will not get out of there until you’ve paid the very last cent. Those who have authority of any kind, whether it’s in the family, in the church, they ought to exercise that authority like a servant. That authority ought to cost them and not benefit them.
How is this relevant to my life? Throughout my life, I have been entrusted to lead in various capacities. This serves as a reminder for me to exercise any authority given to me with great fear, like a servant. I myself am under the authority of Jesus Christ, and I submit myself to God. I will have to one day give an account of everything and everyone He has entrusted to me.
One of the things I am anticipating in my life that also induces much apprehension is the thought of having kids in the future. I do not take this lightly in the slightest. Like, hey, my future kids are daughters and sons of God too! Yes, I will have authority over them as a mother, but I have learned that this authority is supposed to be a costly responsibility. They are children of God just as much as I am, and one day, I will have to give an account before God, before His throne, for how I use the authority He gives me over them. That is honestly a weighty thought.
I have a lot to learn here. May God prepare me for the responsibility of motherhood and continually remind me that the authority He gives me is meant to cost me, not benefit me. May He make me the kind of mother who is willing to sacrifice for her children. And most importantly, may I, by the power of the Holy Spirit, faithfully point my future children to Jesus.