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Most people have some form of positional authority but few possess moral authority. Positional authority is easier to achieve than moral authority. Some people are born into positional authority while others inherit it. Some grow into it and others work hard to gain or expand it. However, nobody is born with or can inherit moral authority; the only way to gain it is to earn it. There is no way to sugar coat the fact that the only way to attain moral authority is through many sacrifices over a long period of time. Moral authority is earned exclusively by those who commit themselves to building their character and integrity.

Sacrifices
Nehemiah 5:14-18 NIV
…neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.

In the case of Nehemiah, he spent twelve long years forgoing his privileges as appointed Governor of Judah; he sacrificed his right to collect taxes for personal gain, to acquire land in order to grow in power, and he spent those years feeding the people who did not have instead of taking food from them. Over time, these personal sacrifices produced in Nehemiah moral authority. As followers of Jesus, we have been called to build moral authority. Just like in the case of Nehemiah, we too must be willing to make the necessary sacrifices in order to develop our moral authority. In today’s world, our sacrifices will be in the area of our finances, time, and in any area in which we have been granted a measure of power or privileges. We must be willing to make the necessary sacrifices in these areas for the sake of our divine purpose, for the sake of the vision, and for the sake of others.

Time
Nehemiah 5: 14 NIV
Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years— neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.
The good things in life take time; they are not achieved from one day to another.The same can be said for building the character and integrity necessary to afford you moral authority, it takes time. For Nehemiah, it was not one week, one month, or even one year of sacrificing; it was twelve long years. In other words, you do not place a time frame on sacrificing, it should be for however long it takes.
This is a lengthy process, in all honesty, it is important for you to know that you will suffer many temptations. However, when you are tempted, remember that you never know who is watching; there is always someone watching. Depending on what they see will determine if you will earn moral authority in their sight. In Nehemiah’s case, not only were the workers watching him, those who opposed the work, his enemies were also watching. In our case it will be our co-workers, neighbors, friends, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, and our very own children who will be watching us.

The only way to attain moral authority is through many sacrifices over a long period of time. Allow me to ask you a few questions. In which areas of your life do you require moral authority? Can you get the job done just with your positional authority? What are you currently doing to build moral authority?