Giving up Power

By Fred Wikoff

Ever since I can remember I’ve liked a lot of power. When I bought my first car as a teenager the first thing I did was test its speed then I set out to make it even faster. I adjusted the carburetor, tinkered with the timing, and put special additives in the fuel, but it still wouldn’t go as fast as I wanted.

Six months later I traded it for a 41 Ford Coup equipped with dual exhausts and a powerful truck clutch. Still not satisfied, I added dual carburetors and replaced the stock head gaskets with special paper-thin aluminum ones to boost the compression ratio, all in an effort to achieve even more power.

Today, fifty-five years later, I’m still hooked on power. Whether it’s a computer, power tools, or my car, I want enough power to get the job done and more. Some might accuse me of being power hungry. But then, isn’t the whole world power hungry? Especially when it refers to the natural resources to fuel our cars, heat our homes, or provide electricity for the countless power hungry devices we use in everyday life.

However, the quest for power goes well beyond our physical

needs. It penetrates to the very core of our inner beings. From our first cries as newborns until the grave we seek the power to control our own destiny. We have an inner urge to run faster, out think, and gain the upper hand over all who would threaten our independence. And though most of us are aware that we all can’t be number one, we still don’t want anyone else controlling our lives either. We want to be in charge.

God wants us to be in charge of our lives too. That’s why he created mankind with a will and gave us the power to subdue and control the earth. (See Genesis 1: 26-28) Unfortunately, we lost much of that power when mankind chose to believed Satan rather than God. (Genesis 3:1-8)

Now Satan is the ruler of the world and the power we inherited is limited and corrupted by his influence. Working in secret, he deceives us into thinking we are running our lives and the world by our power instead of his. The result is a world of chaos and heartache with God too often getting the blame.

God’s word says: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” 1John 3:8 And to those who believe, Christ gives the power to “turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” Acts 26:18

But changing from Satan’s power to God’s entails far more than just giving up a few worldly sins. It means coming to a personal understanding that we really don’t have the power in ourselves to keep from sinning. Only Christ’s power and grace makes that possible.

This can be especially difficult to accept for those who have worked long and hard to live a “Christian life,” and feel that they have “earned” a special place with God. Some in the early Church were tricked by Satan into this same trap. Of them Christ said, “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17

It’s been said that “no man is so poor as he who thinks he is rich but is actually bankrupt.” Leaders, workers, fellow Christians, until we can stand before God and admit that we in ourselves are destitute and as powerless as newborn babes we will never achieve the kingdom of heaven or be what God desires of us. (See John 3:2-8)

Yes, I’ll always look for more power to make my physical work easer. But when it comes to my spiritual life? After years of struggling I’ve finely learned that sometimes giving up power means more power . . . especially when the power given up allows God’s power to rule again in ones life.

Christ made it clear what real power is all about. It’s about being humble not arrogant or boastful. (Luke 18: 10-14) It’s about loving our fellow man, our enemies, and praying for those who persecute us. (See Matthew 5:44) It’s about stepping aside and letting God’s power work through us.

Once we humble ourselves in this manner God will accomplish great things through us. He will use us to move mountains and save the worst of sinners. His power is infinite and everlasting; and best of all he wants to share it with us. Why settle for anything less?

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Fred Wikoff writes from Eugene, Oregon. EugeneSpud@msn.com