Genesis 2:19 (NKJV)

‘Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.’

God was the One who created all things and yet He gave Adam the authority to name each one of His creations; indeed He brought them to him to ‘see what he would call them’. Isn’t that amazing? Why didn’t God just name His creations Himself? They were His to name? Why hand that responsibility to Adam? It was both a test for Adam as well as a chance to pleasantly observe His delegated authority act and utilize delegated authority. Every time God gives us a blessing, it is an opportunity to show Him we are capable of using it correctly. God is watching to see how we function with the authority He gives us.

Unfortunately, we sometimes fail God in 2 ways:

• We have the authority and yet live as paupers (poor meager men) who don’t seem to have heaven’s authority. And so we keep coming back to Him, asking Him to give the animals names. What a sad situation. We’ve been given authority and we’ve been given the freedom to use the authority, and yet we keep asking God to do for us, what He has given us the authority to do. How preposterous!

• We abuse the authority and use it for selfish and sinful activities. He still leaves us with the authority for a season but it’s a season of sorrow in the heart of God. The authority was meant to bless God’s creation and give names that build; the authority was not meant for destruction or dishonoring God’s creation.

‘O God, how I pray that I can fully understand the privilege and authority you’ve granted to me; and how I so desire that faith will arise to be a good fruitful steward of this gracious authority extended to me. No more pitiful living when I bear the mark and authority of the Almighty God. It is a new dawn for me and I go forth today, confidently and gracefully wielding the Lord’s scepter. Amen.’