Powerful or Full of Power?

Each year Forbes magazine ranks the world’s most powerful people. In 2016, this list included rulers of nations such as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump; business moguls like Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos and even the Pope. These people control billions if not trillions of dollars (Bill Gates alone has a net worth of almost $90B.) They have the fate of millions of people in their hands. They tend to be authoritative, controlling, strong and even intimidating –don’t you have to be to be powerful? A few Sundays back, I was worshiping at Lifeway Church where my friend, William Deagle was preaching. Something he said, which for the life of me I can’t remember, prompted me to write this question: Am I powerful or am I full of Power?

Unfortunately, very often and in so many different ways, I want to be powerful as the world sees it. I want to be in control. I want to tell people what to do. I want it my way. And if they just did it my way I wouldn’t have to be so bossy.

But the Lord gently reminded me that the first will be the last. If you want to be great, you must be a servant to all. I must be filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit and not my power. When I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I am approachable. I am meek (strength under control.) I am clothed with dignity and can laugh at the future. I am more concerned about the mission than I am about my position.

I am able to walk in all the fruit of the Spirit.

• To love the unlovely.
• To find joy in hard times.
• To have peace in the chaos.
• To be patient when things are not going my way.
• To be kind to the cruel.
• To be good when my flesh desires to be bad.
• To be faithful in the midst of disloyalty.
• To be gentle despite the pain.
• To be self-controlled with my mouth.

Will these things that put me on Forbes most powerful person list? Probably not, but it is not man’s list that I am looking to be on.

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:21 (ESV)