… a caution to leaders
By Rev. Clifford Chisha
When we become too familiar with the environment or gadget, the chances of violating safety measures become high.
No matter the experience, leaders should avoid dropping the guard. Safety guidelines safeguard our lives, position, success and reputation.
When you begin to fight what causes you to be accountable or your level of authority to be regulated, you are violating safety measures. Rules, policies and job description/duties are good safety measures.
Generally speaking, human beings are naturally “allergic” to accountability.
Violating safety guidelines has led to the fall of many leaders.
They have found themselves in “fatal accidents” and have been charged for “gross negligence” .
It was familiarity with the tool Moses had used several times and anger that led to him not entering Canaan. He was asked to speak to the rock but he decided to strike it with the stuff.
Numbers 20:8-12.
In 1Samuel 13:1-14, we find a story of the king who decided to operate in an office he wasn’t supposed to operate from and God’s judgement was pronounced on him.
He violated “safety guidelines”.
When Samuel did not appear at Gilgal to offer burnt sacrifices at the set time, king Saul decided to do the work of a priest, he offered the burnt offering.
Saul was a king, not a priest, and only priests were to offer sacrifices. It was not the king’s business to do what only a priest was supposed to do.
1Samuel 13:8-9
8 – He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.
9 – So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. “And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
Out of fear and impatience, king Saul entered into an office he wasn’t supposed to enter. Check 1Samuel 13:12.
This we do as leaders and the consequences are usually bad.
God would not allow the kings of Israel to be priests and the priests to be kings.
There was proper “separation of power”.
It was a safety measure. I suggest that it promoted accountability, order, expertise and prevented abuse of authority.
In 2 Chronicles 26 king Uzziah tried to do the work of priest and God struck him with leprosy.
Sticking to our offices can preserve our lives and positions.
