On Power

Money. Sex. Power.

Power is the biggest temptation.

Power is powerful. The Greek word for power is the word that gives us the English word “dynamite.” You know the old line, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

What you may not know is that the misuse of power is at the base of much of the misuse of money and sex. Many heinous abuses of money and sex are fundamentally power plays; they often have little to do with money or sex.

In a sense, power is an alien concept in the Church and for the Christian. When the sons of Zebedee wanted a leg up against the other disciples and the disciples got upset about the power-play, Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:24-28

Be clear. Having power is not the problem; the issue is how we exercise it. In life you will be in various positions of power because of things as varied as birth order or finances or physical size or job title. There are any number of ways by which you end up “in power.” 

Watch it. Power can be powerful stuff. At times you will find power more intoxicating than the most potent liquor.

As a follower of Jesus we must be very careful about how we exercise our power. Power, like dynamite, has its place. But it can also destroy.

To What End?

Keep in mind that the power that you have must be directed toward serving people. Jesus exercised his power not in self-aggrandizement but in self-sacrifice. He used his position, authority and strength to glorify his Father and save people. You too! Like the money you have, whatever power you have was entrusted to you by God. You are to be a steward over it and not use it to be lord over another. What can you do with the power you have to glorify the Father and help people?  

It is good to remember again John the Baptist’s words, “He must increase and I must decrease.” 

Checks and Balances

For all the foibles the government of the United States has, the thing that makes it work is a very intentional system of checks and balances.

Make sure that you have people who keep you in check and help you to stay balanced.

• Spouse: The first line of defense in keeping power under control is a loving spouse.  Listen to your spouse.
• Accountability Group: Establish a group of people with whom you can have regular conversation about your work. Pick people who will ask tough questions. These can be colleagues. They can be fellow congregants.
• Mentor: Find someone, not necessarily a pastor, who has a decade or two on you. Find someone who will challenge you and in whom you can confide.
• Mother: If you are being a dope or doing something foolish, she will tell you. Listen. (Mine still “speaks” to me from the grave.)

Check the Ego

Make sure that you have ways to keep your ego in check. Practice the following:

• Eliminate “Pride”: I wrote about this previously. Scripture speaks about it often. “Pride comes before the fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)  Like a lady’s slip that shows, pride gives an inkling that power is amiss.
• Listen to Other People: You’re not the only person who knows things. The Bible teaches us to be slow to speak but quick to listen.
• Assume You’re Not the First:  If you have a great idea or a great achievement, assume someone else has thought of it before you and done it better. This is not to belittle yourself, but it will keep you from getting too big for your britches. The writer of Ecclesiastes says this very thing, “There is nothing new under the Sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
• Give Glory to God: Remember all the really best stuff that you do is from God. Keep in mind that he works in, through and in spite of you. 
• Balaam’s Ass: Whenever you think that your ego is getting out of control, check out Numbers 22.

God has given you many gifts. Power is among them. Exercise it as steward and servant.