Who authorized you to...?

Matthew 21:23-27

23 Then he was back in the Temple, teaching. The high priests and leaders of the people came up and demanded, "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to teach here?" 24 Jesus responded, "First let me ask you a question. You answer my question and I'll answer yours. 25 About the baptism of John-- who authorized it: heaven or humans?" They were on the spot and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, "If we say 'heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe him; 26 if we say 'humans,' we're up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet." 27 They decided to concede that round to Jesus. "We don't know," they answered. Jesus said, "Then neither will I answer your question.

Food for thought!

Yesterday, John the Baptist's envoys asked Jesus a question about his identity:  “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?” Today, the high priests and leaders of the people came up and demanded to know from Jesus, "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to teach here?" They are saying in other words, Why are you here? Why are you here and not in some other place? Why do you do what you do?

If someone asked us, as I am doing, Who authorized you to do what you are doing or by whose authority are doing what you are doing, what would reply? We need to know what is behind all we do; what empowers us; what is the reason were are here and not in any other place, other family, other employment, other church, other country, or other world? Yesterday, Nelson Mandela was buried; he is no longer in this world; he is now in the other world. But you and I are still here in this world, why?

We are here on earth, doing what we are doing because we believe that that's what God wills for us. We don't live to make money; this is too little. We live to make a living for ourselves and a living for many other people. We are where we are in order to serve God's people. As we serve God's people, through our services, we also get the money.

Money is a by product. We are where we are in order to serve God's people. As we serve God's people, through our services, we also get the money.

When a customer enters the shop, or moves into our office s/he does not begin by pulling out the money; they begin by expressing their need in form of some service or product, which we have or not. When we say we have it or can do it, then we speak of money; money is always a byproduct. This means that what we get the money thanks to the product we have, or thanks to the services we provide in terms of our skills and talents. 

All this to say, that if someone asked us, by whose authority are we doing what we do, are here on this earth, etc, the answer is by the authority of the Lord. It is the Lord, who empowered and empowers us with skills and talents; that is  the ultimate reason for what we are and do. This is what 1Peter 4:10-11 exhorts to do:

"God has given each one some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings. Are you called to preach? Then preach as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies so that God will be glorified through Jesus Christ—to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen!"