A Servant When He Reigneth (5 Minute Read – 7 Minute Audio)

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Proverbs 30:21-22  For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:  (22)  For a servant when he reigneth…

In this portion of scripture, Solomon points out a remarkable observation! He basically says that when a servant is in charge…WATCH OUT! This could seem to be a little too general of a statement as I am sure that in his days there were plenty of good servants who would have done just fine in a higher position. So, let’s take a look at this part of the scripture and see what he’s talking about.

A Servant when He Reigneth

The Pulpit Commentary says the following regarding this portion of scripture. “…which he used only to aggrandize himself at the expense and to the injury of others”. This speaks of those who “finally get to call the shots” and now that they are on the giving end of “calling the shots” and not the receiving end, they care not for how it affects others; even those among whom they used to live and labor. We see Solomon is addressing a mentality, not just people in general.

This is really the person Solomon is addressing; the person who looks at a position in life as the ultimate accomplishment and not as a place from which to help and enrich other people’s lives.

When the Victim Becomes the Bully

We’ve all heard, or experienced, the horrific stories of bullying. Some of these incidents lead to the victim severely hurting themselves or others, or even worse taking someone’s life, including their own. All this because of the pain they suffered from the relentless attacks from some bully in their life. Today, bullying isn’t just physical but it’s done online and creates great emotional harm to the recipients thereof!

But, what about when the victim rises up and becomes the bully themselves? Can this happen? Of course it can, and does!! This can happen through some advancement of position, acquirement of self-defense skills, or just a shift in their mentality. If this person is not careful, they can also become a person who has no remorse for their actions because they are now experiencing the power they once only dreamed of having.

Their dreams of fighting back are now a reality and rather than using their power for good, they may try to fill their void of insecurity and lack the same way the previous bully did…by making others feel lower than they feel about themselves.

Real Power

Real power is found when one who actually has power, whether through some position they hold or some newfound discovery of themselves, uses that power to help others by lifting them up and opening opportunities to them that they otherwise could not have opened to themselves. This could be done through an introduction to someone you know who could help that person in some venture they are undertaking, finding out about a higher job opening at work and recommending them for that position, sending them to a school that will better qualify them for future opportunities, simply lifting them up in prayer for God to move in a mighty way in their lives, and any other action that helps lift someone else up to higher ground. By the way, you cannot pray for someone’s good and have hate and despising for them at the same time. This may be why many people don’t pray for certain people’s good…because they would rather feel the “power” through the hate and despising.

I say this is “real power” because it is constructive power which serves a greater multitude of people, and thus serves us as well, and not destructive power which only serves ourselves and will only bring our ultimate demise. Be careful with the power you have! There is an unfailing law that is used both for good and for evil. It is explained by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:7  … for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Closing Prayer

Lord, if there is any part of my heart that looks for ways to conquer others in order to make myself feel important, I ask You to not only reveal that to me, but to help me overcome and replace it with love and an uplifting spirit. I believe that if You help me do this, I will reap more benefits than I originally tried to produce on my own and You will be glorified. Amen!