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Good Thursday to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends around the world.
This week we’re looking to learn some important lessons from Jesus about various TESTs we encounter in our normal journey of life. It seems clear throughout history and Scripture that God allows into our lives certain situations which challenge us to choose one of several pathways which are available and each will have a very different consequence, both for ourselves and other people impacted by our decision.
Already this week we’ve looked at the “Test of Adversity” and the “Test of Abundance” and the “Test of Freedom” and today I invite us to consider the “Test of POWER”. Now this one is really relevant to every place in the world isn’t it? Affecting each of us are many different people in power: Political leaders who impose laws and taxes upon us; law enforcement people who are watching our behavior and ready to take action to restrain us if our behavior breaks a law; business people who make decisions which affect everything we buy and how we get it.
If we are employed we probably have a boss who has power over us; if we are in school there are teachers or administrators with power; if we’re an athlete there’s likely a coach or team owner; if we’re in any musical group there’s some director; and then there’s our church and our family and our social groups, all with various types of leadership and power including peer pressure power. Of course in recent years we now have all types of media power, including incredibly influential social media power.
It’s interesting that most people rarely give much consideration to the Ultimate Power, our Sovereign, Omnipotent God. Yet He is the One who is always watching every person, but especially God watches those with power, and He holds them accountable to use that power wisely, and to not harm those who are affected by their leadership power. Listen: “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth. He who forms the hearts of all considers everything they do.” (Psalm 33:13-15) “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)
When Moses first confronted the Egyptian Pharaoh with God’s demand that he release the Hebrew slaves, Exodus 5:2 reports the most powerful man in the world at that time said: “Who is this LORD, that I should obey Him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I refuse, I will not let Israel go…Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work! That same day the Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers in charge: ‘You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks, let them go gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before, don’t reduce their quota. Make the work harder for them so they pay no attention to lies.” (Ex. 5:2-9)
Throughout history those in power have refused to allow God any authority in their society. Sometimes they pass laws prohibiting worship of God, sometimes they burn the Bibles or demolish church buildings, sometimes they imprison or kill the spiritual leaders. But never, not one time in all of history, has any leader been successful in removing God entirely from their society! In fact as the persecution increases against followers of Jesus, it only serves to draw other people to Jesus and the movement grows! The blood of the martyrs only increases the passion Christ followers have for their Savior and bringing the Gospel to their persecutors.
History also tells us power can be a cancer even in the lives of good people, even God honoring people. Sadly the Bible is filled with examples of those whose hearts turned proud as powerful people. Many of the kings of Israel began well, but ended in disaster, as their pride turned their hearts away from God. King Asa of Judah passionately led the people of Jerusalem to renew their covenant with God, and God greatly blessed them. 2 Chronicles 14-16 tell us “All Judah sought the LORD eagerly and He was found by them, so the LORD gave them rest on every side…Asa’s heart was fully committed to the LORD…” In fact this famous promise from God was given to king Asa “The eyes of the LORD roam to and fro across the whole earth looking to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chron. 16;9)
But in Asa’s 36th year as king, his pride and power began to convince him that he was invincible and didn’t need God, and he “…took silver and gold out of the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram (Syria) who was ruling in Damascus…” and an unholy alliance was formed between them going to war against the northern kingdom Israel. In his 39th year “Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe he did not seek help from the LORD…” (2 Chron. 16:12) and from what we know Asa died an angry man, whose heart was far from God. Power had turned his heart away from God.
King Joash is another example found in 2 Chronicles 24. As a boy king he started so well, under the mentorship of a priest of God who had saved his life as a child. But when that priest died in his old age, king Joash listened to the selfish, prideful advice of powerful men around him, and his heart turned prideful, selfish, and he turned away from God. And he ruled the people harshly the last few years of his kingship.
King David of course, is perhaps the saddest example of all. God said he was a man after God’s heart, in his young years. God’s mighty hand was upon David as he killed Goliath.(1 Samuel 17) Humble David faithfully served Saul for many years, refusing to listen to the voices which urged him to overthrow Saul’s kingship and take it for himself. David was a good, God honoring man for many years, but his love of power was ruining his heart.
David’s legacy was shattered that fateful day when he was walking on the roof of his house and saw an attractive woman bathing… Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11 gives us that terrible story of David’s adultery with Mrs. Uriah, and then his devious plan to have her husband, one of his soldiers, killed in battle. Psalm 32 is David’s reflection on what it was like during that full year when he lived in private shame and cover-up of his sin. The prophet Nathan courageously confronted David in 2 Samuel 12, and Psalm 51 is David’s cry to God in repentance.
While David is still today recognized as a great king of Israel, and much of Jerusalem bears his name and the Israeli flag bears his six pointed star, and his tomb is still visited today by pilgrims… the consequences of his sin, for David, his family, the child born from that affair, the entire nation of Israel and eventually his son Solomon, are so very, very terrible. Power can pervert, even good people. Listen to these words of wisdom from Proverbs 11:2 “With pride comes disgrace but with humility comes wisdom.” Humility, my friends, is the antidote to power distortion.
Paul wrote to his dear friends in Philippi: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.” (Phil. 2:3) And then Paul describes the ultimate example of humility… Jesus. God incarnate who had all power, yet humbled Himself and refused to use His power to distort the mission of Redemption that He had come to provide, which required Jesus going all the way to the cross!
So here’s a summary statement regarding the “TEST of POWER” for us my friends: “Power can be wicked, self-serving, self-glorifying, manipulative, abusive… OR Power can be submitted to Jesus, can be helpful to others, and provide honorable, humble, servant-leadership. What about you and me, my friends. What “power” has God entrusted to you in your family, your career, your community or social group? How will Jesus guide you to use your influence to be helpful to others, and build a God honoring legacy? What cautions do you need to put in place so your heart does not turn prideful?
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Click to read today’s chapter: 2 Chronicles 24. (At the top you can choose a different translation.)
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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