Authority and Responsibility

Authority and responsibility belong together, and the story of Jairus in Mark 5 gives us a powerful biblical picture of this truth.
Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue, came to Jesus with an urgent request: his little daughter was seriously ill.

He pleaded with Jesus to come and lay His hands on her so that she might be healed. Jesus went with him.

But on the way to Jairus’ house, Jesus was delayed by the crowd and by the remarkable encounter with the woman who had suffered from an issue of blood.

Then came devastating news from Jairus’ house:

“Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

By the time Jesus arrived at the house, there was mourning and commotion. When Jesus declared that the child was not dead but sleeping, some of those present laughed at Him.

Jesus put them out.

He took the child’s father and mother and those who were with Him into the room where the little girl was lying.

Then Jesus took her by the hand and spoke:

“Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

And she arose.

Jesus spoke with divine authority.

Throughout His ministry, when Jesus spoke and acted with authority, extraordinary things happened.

This teaches us an important principle:

You cannot give someone responsibility without giving them the authority to carry out that responsibility.

Jesus has given His followers the responsibility of bearing witness to Him throughout the world. And with that responsibility comes authority to accomplish what He has called us to do.

But we must understand the relationship between authority and responsibility.

Divine authority is not a license to do whatever we want.

Some people approach spiritual authority as though it means, “I am free. I can do whatever I want.”

That is not biblical authority.

No one is a law unto himself.

Authority without submission quickly becomes rebellion.

If we are going to walk in divine authority, we must also learn to submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit and to God’s purposes for the Body of Christ.

Freedom in the Spirit does not mean freedom to follow every personal desire.

Rather:

You are free and empowered with divine authority to do what God tells you to do.

That distinction matters.

God does not give us authority so that we can magnify ourselves. He gives us authority so that we can fulfil the responsibility He has entrusted to us.

Therefore, examine your heart today.

Are you walking in the responsibility God has given you?

Are you exercising the authority He has provided to fulfil it?

And are you remaining submitted to the One from whom that authority comes?

Let this truth sink deeply into your spirit:

God-given responsibility comes with God-given authority—but God-given authority must remain under God’s direction.