Motivation vs. Manipulation
We can positively and beneficially influence our leaders through motivation. I Timothy 6:1 says, “Let as many servants as are under the yoke (joined together) count their own masters (leaders, or employers) worthy of all honour that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed (spoken against). This does not tell us what motivation is as much as it gives us a reason why we should motivate our leadership. To “honour” means to “esteem.” So, this is saying that when we esteem our leaders by motivating them, we actually lift up God’s name along with His doctrine and our testimony.
Conversely, when we manipulate our leaders, we have the exact opposite effect on our testimony and the name of God. Manipulation is a direct form of blasphemy, for it is simply trying to get people to do what you want absent of the leading of God’s Spirit. A manipulator attempts to replace God’s Spirit with some form of imposter that inevitably comes from self, and it is always wicked. Proverbs 6:12 says, “A naughty person…walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes…Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord…” We see in this verse that the “naughty person,” or the manipulator, has forwardness in his heart and devises mischief continuously. This means that the manipulator tells lies and makes up stories without ceasing. He must make up lies to cover up lies. All of this is done in an effort to sow discord. Why does the manipulator seek to sow discord? Because when things are in a state of chaos, it prevents people from focusing too carefully on the manipulator’s behavior, thus keeping them blind from the truth–which is deception! Nothing is more ineffective at influencing leadership than a manipulator who is “found out”; and all manipulators are eventually exposed!
Loyalty vs. Disloyalty
In Romans 13:7, we find the biblical instruction manual for being loyal to our leadership. Dissected and defined it says, “Render (pay back) therefore to all their dues (what is owed) tribute (payment that acknowledges submission) to whom tribute is due; custom (purchase) to whom custom; fear (respect) to whom fear; honour (esteem) to whom honour.” Reconstructed, we see that Paul is telling us that we are to, “Pay back all of what we owe with submission; purchase from whom we ought to purchase from; respect whom we ought to respect; and esteem those whom we ought to esteem.” When we exhibit this kind of loyalty to our leaders, they will bring us in very close to them and allow us to be extremely influential with them.
Unfortunately, a man who displays this type of loyalty is extremely rare. The opposite of loyal is disloyal, and although most men would not be considered disloyal, there are very few that would qualify as loyal by the Bible’s standard. Proverbs 20:6 says, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” What this verse is essentially saying is that most men are well intentioned and will publicly claim to be good and loyal; however, when it comes down to it, they are sadly inconsistent. To be loyal, one must put their leader’s needs well above their own, and couple that with a great deal of character and discipline. A lack of loyalty to leadership, or disloyalty, is certainly one way to ineffectively influence authority. After all, who would take great heed to somebody whose heart is not fully committed, or loyal, to a joint cause?
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