Vested Interests

Vested Interests

“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed” (Neh 4:1).

Leaders who attempt something greater than themselves will always get attacked and it often comes from those who have a vested interest in what you are changing. Nehemiah was rebuilding the ancient wall of Jerusalem. It was a major undertaking. Not everyone was pleased with this initiative. Sanballat, another government worker, did not want this to happen.

When Jesus began confronting the Pharisees about religious traditions, He was attacked by the religious establishment because they had a vested interest that would be negatively impacted by His teaching. The apostle Paul confronted a religious tradition that generated income for those in the trade. Opposition arose because he was impacting a vested interest.

“About that time there arose a great disturbance
about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver
shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the
craftsmen. He called them together, along with the workmen in
related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good
income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow
Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in
Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says
that man-made gods are no gods at all. There is danger not only
that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple
of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess
herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the
world, will be robbed of her divine majesty” (Acts 19:23-27)

Whenever you introduce a new product into the market, expect opposition from competitive products that have a vested interest. If God leads you to initiate a cause greater than yourself, expect opposition from those who may have vested interest.

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