The negative effect of lobbying in our society can not be overemphasized as we continue to suffer from it on a daily basis.
Citizens in many nations of the world are suffering in every aspect of life due to the adverse effects of lobbying as the system has replaced qualified and voted leaders with the ones who lobbied for positions in public offices.
This is not just found in the political institutions of the society but also found in the religious institutions, and it is visible in appointments and how responsibilities are assigned in these religious institutions.
The obvious truth about those who lobby for positions in different institutions is that they always have selfish interest and are not ready to serve the interests of those they lead but themselves.
In the gospel of today, “The mother of Zebedee’s sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom….”
Imagine if Jesus accepted this request. The whole message he preached would have been meaningless since anybody can lobby his or her way into God’s kingdom.
Summarily, what is expected of us to do in order to attain God’s kingdom is to love, to have one another’s interest in our heart, not to lobby our way into power using others as stepping stones with fake promises, but to help everyone to grow together in love. This is why Jesus said that “…anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
It is a call for us Christians to be genuinely active in our call to serve God through our services to our neighbours. This will count more for us than lobbying our way in, with selfish interests.
Peace be with you.
