Power Predicaments - Part 3

DAILY BYTE

But as I have already mentioned, the temptations of power do not affect just politicians and world leaders, but all of us in some way.

In fact the temptations of power are a lot more subtle than we are often aware of, and can effect us in a variety of ways. Perhaps most profoundly, as we see in the Mark 10 passage with the power-play and resulting dissension, is that the problem of power affects us most in our relationships.

Hear these thoughts from Richard Foster: “If money hits us in the pocketbook, and sex hits us in the bedroom, the power hits us in our relationships. Power profoundly impacts our interpersonal relationships, our social relationships, and our relationship with God. Nothing touches us more profoundly for good or for ill than power.”

I would like to offer you a few examples of how this can happen in everyday life.

We abuse power when we intentionally MANIPULATE others. When we use someone else’s love or respect for us to get our own way at their expense; when we prey on their emotional or spiritual weaknesses to gain some sort of relational advantage for ourselves. It sounds totally horrible doesn’t it – but I am sure we have all done it at least once in our lives because we learn how manipulate others from a really young age.

Another example would be how we sometimes use people as stepping stones to other relationships. We are only friendly to someone because of what we can get out of the situation. That is an abuse of power and it is never ok even if it does help our business or social lives in some way.

Another way we abuse power is if we treat someone extremely well because they are popular, wealthy or good-looking; but treat others less well because they are none of those things.

As I said, these are just some examples, and you could probably think of many more. Power may not be your ‘kryptonite’ (your greatest weakness), but as these examples show it can very subtly affect us all in some way or another.

But of course when it comes to relationships and power, this is not the Jesus way. Jesus taught a totally different way of being in relationship with others – a teaching which we will investigate more closely over the next two days.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Holy and Loving God, we confess to you the times that we have abused power: When we manipulated someone’s love for us to get our own way at their expense; when we have used others as stepping stones to get ahead; and for when we have showed favouritism to the wealthy, powerful and good-looking. Help us to clearly identify how power may subtly or not-so-subtly affect us and teach us to live the Jesus way in this regard. Gracious God, hear our prayers. Amen.

FOCUS VERSE

Mark 10:38-43a (NIV)

"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"

"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.