SCRIPTURE: “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.” (2 Chronicles 26:16 KJV)
QUOTE: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. -Lord Acton.
NOTE:
Leadership confers authority. The more the authority, the more the influence, power and control available to wield over others. This can be intoxicating and addictive and the average man has high proclivity to be swayed by power. Power is a necessity for leadership. The two are like the Siamese twins, hardly separable. It enhances the capacity of a leader to be effective. It is a tool required to get followers or team members to accomplish set goals and achieved targets.
When a leader begins to excessively exercise power especially for selfish motives, that becomes an abnormal use or abuse of power. When a leader manipulates and threatens subordinates to get what he/she wants, that is power abuse. When a leader uses their title majorly for entitlements rather than to serve others, that is gross abuse of power.
ILLUSTRATION:
“And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.” The story above is a classic case of abuse of power and in this case by one who ordinarily should help temper the excesses of a wicked leader. She rather fueled the abuse of office for crass acquisition of another man’s heritage.
REFLECTION:
Do you use or abuse power?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING: Isaiah 24 – 25, Proverbs 11