24/11/2024
NEED FOR LEADERS WITH MORAL INTELLIGENCE
ACTS 25:1-5.
1.Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
3 And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
4 But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
Timeless Truth: "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful"
1 Corinthians 4:2.
Of the different types of intelligence or attitude, the following three are often mentioned. Intelligent Quotient (IQ) that measures your cognitive and intellectual skills, like working memory, analytical thinking, and knowledge retention. Emotional Quotient (EQ) or Emotional Intelligence refers to emotional abilities and social skills, including cognitive empathy, emotional regulation, and motivation. Social Quotient (SQ) or Social Intelligence, refers to one’s ability to interact and communicate with others with empathy and assertiveness. This includes a person’s ability to build a network of friends and maintain it over a long period of time. However, the issue of Moral Quotient or Moral Intelligence should be added as the umbrella for all these abilities. We define it as the measure of moral sensitivity and correctness of a person. This depends on the will, exposure, values, backgrounds and the environment of a person. It is mostly needed if men will be able to enjoy their living together in peace and happiness. In this age of moral relativity, it is a very important aspect of intelligence to consider. The text shows us two groups of leaders and how they manifested moral intelligence and the results.
1. Ecclesiastical Conspiracy: Injustice
a. Festus was asked to replace Felix as the Governor of Judea. After three days in office, he decided to do a familiarity tour of his domain. He left his seat of power in Caesarea and made his first point of call to Jerusalem. There he met the high priest and the chief priests who mentioned to him the case of Paul the Apostle who was in the custody of his predecessor called Felix while awaiting trial. "Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul". Obviously, they did not give the true details.
b. The high priest and the chief priests were the ecclesiastical heads of Jerusalem operating a theocracy form of government. They were expected to preach, fight and defend the truth. However, they conspired to kill Paul the Apostle for just reason. Furthermore, in order to deny Apostle Paul justice and destroy him, they made a secret demand for the release of Paul into their hands with the intention of denying him justice. Thus, justice was not their watch word but mere defense of personal respect and honor from men by silencing Paul and others who may want to follow the way of truth.
c. It is unfortunate that those who were expected to have strong and high moral intelligence as a result of their calling and exposure to the law of God were the one conspiring to kill justice and unlawfully destroy the innocent. When religious leaders and professors are those defeated and defiled by injustice, covetousness, love of money and immoralities of different forms, it becomes an issue to bring sorrow to the heart of Christ. If the hands and hearts of those who profess to be Christians or are expected to lead others are not clean, what is the fate of the Church of God? Conspiracy against the righteous who are standing for righteousness by those who claim to be righteous is one of the greatest moral contradictions of our age. Obviously, the moral intelligence quotient of those religious leaders was very below average.
Question
Do you allow righteousness to guide you in all your relationships and positions you find yourself?
2. Exemplary Character: Integrity
a. The religious leaders adopted psychology by demonstrating very good hospitality to the governor. They did all they could to court his friendship and favor. Once that was done, they afterwards "informed him against Paul", pleaded "and desired favor against him (Paul) that he would be released to them" while "laying wait in the way to kill him". They obviously put Felix in a tight situation that would make it difficult for him to refuse their request. But Felix, a Gentile governor had a high deposit capital of integrity with a high moral quotient. He was a man of integrity that could not be bought over though he did not know who Paul was whether he was a common criminal or a highly respectable person. He was not of a cheap personality that could easily be bought over. It was an irony that this high sense of justice and integrity was found in a Gentile while the religious leaders that were expected to teach good morals and godliness were found wanting. This is still strangely true today.
b. Believers are expected, in any situation they find themselves, to show forth a higher level of integrity and sound morals above unbelievers. They should be such with strong moral principles that people cannot buy them over on the platform of any gift, sympathy or relations. All forms of gifts that are targeted at believers so that they will give preferential, unjust and ungodly advantage to people above others or above the law should be rejected. "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity". (1 Timothy 4:12). Governor Felix refused the subtle, but unjust request and stood his ground and was willing to give up his relationship with them rather than trade away his integrity and innocence.
Question
Do you have this moral capacity?
What moral principle are you known for?
3. Empathetic Capacity: Intelligence
a. Governor Felix demonstrated emotional and moral intelligence as a Gentile leader. Obviously, he was intelligent and wise enough to quickly suspect some mischief though he did not know the details and he immediately, refused to betray Paul the Apostle since he had not heard from his side. "But Felix answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he (Felix) would depart (to Caesarea) shortly". He was smart enough to think that there must be an issue at stake to protect faithfulness to his calling as a governor. Believers and righteous rulers are called to have discerning spirit and sense of justice so that nobody will succeed in deceiving them to make a sentimental, impulsive and unjust decision as a result of pleasure, pressure or partiality.
b. He was a balanced judge. He also gave Apostle Paul's accusers the opportunity to make their case by asking them to go down with him "and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him". If a Gentile leader can be so objective, just and fair to all, how much more is expected on those who claim that they are saints? Those in the position of leadership, both in the Church and outside, should learn from this. "Let your moderation (righteous principle) be known to all men, the Lord is at hand".
Question
What do people know as your moderation and principle?
Prayer Points
1.Ask God to forgive you where you have not shown enough moral intelligence as a believer 🙏.
2.Pray for grace that will make you an example of believers in all moral standards 🙏.
3.Ask for power and ability to always say NO to any unjust and unrighteous pressures 🙏.
4.Pray that God will help all saints in the Church to be mindful of living the life that will not be a reproach to Christ🙏.
May God be with you all!
