It amazes me how some people love to give orders! They feel their importance and position gives them the power to 'throw their weight around.' Elders can be really good at this! They are filled with pride and that pride drives them to barking instructions and determining the actions for others follow. It seems there is this invisible pedestal they stand on and nothing pleases them more than having people to bend to do their will.
Meet Diotrephes! He had a feeling of importance and power that he refused the apostles teachings and would not even acknowledge John's authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ (III John). He refused to welcome the brethren and even put some out of the church who did. What arrogance.
We look at Paul. Here was an apostle with some real weight but he did not employ it. Paul used his position to serve others. Paul reminded the Thessalonians that he and his companions were not seeking a reputation or standing on their dignity to require respectful attention and subservience. They weren't glory seekers even though they had the authority of Christ Jesus. Paul wasn't demanding and pushing his way (II Thes. 2:5-8). The authority the Lord gave him as an apostle was not to tear anyone down but only to build up (II Cor. 13:10). Jesus was his model and Savior. Jesus was the one Paul took instructions from and if Jesus being a servant to those around, how could Paul be anything but that?
Maybe its time for us to look at us in light of Christ. Paul said, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." (I Cor. 11:1) If we would do that, I wonder what things might look like in the church? The work of our Lord is far too important for anyone to strike a pose, develop an attitude of superiority or throw our weight around!
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