Song 2:15 – Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Disloyalty is the little fox that spoils the vine in ministries, organizations and relationships. Ignorance of its effect brings down years of labour.
Loyalty which is unwavering devotion to a person or thing can also be defined as the willingness to make an investment or personal sacrifice to strengthen a relationship. Loyalty should however not be confused with longevity or years of experience. Disloyalty eats like cankerworm and some are even oblivious to the fact that they are under attack by this dangerous spirit. It should be noted that only people who are conversant with the dealings of an organization can be disloyal to it.
It should be noted that disloyalty is a process! It is pertinent we discuss these stages as most people are unaware they are becoming disloyal.
STAGE 1
Independent Spirit.
This is the first stage of disloyalty that must be vigorously attacked and dealt with. This is the point when a person belonging to a group, association, firm or ministry develops an autonomous attitude/behaviour against the laid down rules. This is the stage the devil deceives a lot of people with the need to make independent decisions. This is the time when people think they are of age and do not need to be submissive to others in anyway. They feel they are intelligent beings capable of making decisions best known to them. This spirit invades marriages, relationships, ministries, homes, offices etc. Wives, beware of this spirit. It breeds the lack of submission to your husbands. This is when the worker feels he knows more than his head of department or the associate thinks he has better leadership styles than the senior pastor.
2 Samuel 18:5, 14 – Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom. Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.
The independent spirit is displayed when one does what is opposed to the instruction given by a superior. It should be noted that remaining under the blessing of a covering demands absolute trust and obedience to the laid down rules. One cannot afford to do things independent of the group one belongs.
Joab chose to do what he taught was right in his own eyes by killing the son of the king. It should be noted that independent spirit is betrayal of one’s commitment.
STAGE 2
Offence
Loyalty should not only be from bottom to top but also from top to bottom. The leadership must be loyal to the people and the people to their leaders.
Offence could be a result of hidden hurt. People who hold hurt and pain in their hearts by refusing to let go are most often the recipient of the spirit of offence.
2 Samuel 13:22 – And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
Absalom was offended because his brother had hurt him and he felt this was unforgivable. Brethren should be very careful of being victims of offence. Church members are angry with each other because of past dealings.
People who have been wounded want to also do the same to others. Church members are angry with the leadership because they want more, employees with bosses. Offence breeds disloyalty if not cut off.
STAGE 3
Passivity
2 Samuel 13:23 – And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
Offence leads to passivity. People become uninvolved and unnecessarily withdrawn when they have been hurt; they become passive. In this passive stage, they entertain and breed disloyal thoughts. This is the stage where they keep things back and plan things not in line with the word of God. It should be noted that people at this stage claim passivity helps them keep sane; invariably, it makes them entertain unholy desires and thoughts.
STAGE 4
Critical
This is the point when people develop critical views about everything and everyone. Critical of leadership and subordinates. Faults are magnified everything else seems unacceptable.
This is the point when people want others to follow their line of thoughts in bringing out faults in others. This is where gossip groups are formed to bring down existing structures.
It’s time to stand firm to our commitment to God and man.
For further Study
2 Samuel 13- 18
Personal declaration for the day
I embrace the principle of loyalty in Jesus name.
Questions for you to reflect on
What does loyalty mean to you?
What does who are loyal to?
Comments & Testimonials