The Small Demonstrations of Disloyalty
I've never served under a leader that I agreed 100% with everything he or she said or did. My guess is you're experience has been the same. But agreement is not the basis of loyalty. Loyalty is rooted in relationship and respect regardless of differing opinions, approaches or philosophies. Disloyalty generally develops slowly and subtly slips it’s way into a persons character. It expresses itself through pseudo commitment, self-promotion and slanderous comments that ultimately dismantles people's confidence in the leader. It's not always obvious and outright, in fact it's more commonly understated and simple. This was the approach Absalom took when he began to undermine his father David's leadership. 2 Samuel 15:2-6 tells us,
Absalom would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision...Absalom would say to him, "Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you." 4 And Absalom would add, "If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice." 5 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
This took place over a four year period of time and slowly but surely Absalom dismantled the people's confidence in David's leadership. While it's not likely that you're planning on overthrowing the Senior Pastor at your church or CEO of your organization we still have to be careful in our daily interactions to demonstrate flawless loyalty to our leaders. Simple phases like, "I wouldn't do it that way but…", "I'm not sure why he chose to go that direction" OR "Her decision didn't make any sense to me" can have destructive effects on the leader of your organization. While these phrases may sound like a simple expression of opinion it's also a subtle expression of disloyalty that undermines others confidence in the leader.What do you need to do this week to reinforce loyalty to your leader and organization?
