Power to Do Good

There seems to be a typical human response to power. If there is power to be had, then people will fight to have it for themselves. It happens in the workplace. It happens in the home. It even happens in the Church, much as I would like to wish that it did not. What do we do with power once we have it?

Brethren, if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will. For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him? Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2.2-10

The Lord said to his disciples, “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

Luke 10.16-21

Both readings for today are about power, where it comes from and who has it. It comes from God and has been given to man, but for what purpose? Should we even fight for it in the first place? According to Saint Paul all things were made subject to man, but Christ says we should be gladder that our names are written in heaven.

In human terms, power is associated with control. We exert control on those over whom we have power. We ‘boss them around’ and treat them as if they were secondary to our importance. We’ve all seen it. We’ve all done it. We’ve all experienced being on both sides of the power pendulum.

“But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one.”

Saint Paul

When we are the subjects of power held in others, we tend to resent them. We do not reject the idea of service, not because we don’t want to serve. We reject service when it is forced upon us, because forced service is not love. Forced service is slavery. When we have power over others, we forget this feeling of slavery. We obligate others to serve us, even if we can serve ourselves.

The answer isn’t just to serve others, but to do good for God’s glory. Sometimes serving others enables poor behavior. Sometimes serving others honors sin rather than God. As Christians we must love others and serve them, but we must never serve sin. When we serve sin, we participate in the sin of others as Saint Paul said, “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1.32)

Today’s blog isn’t about stopping the sin of others. It is about using power, when we have it, to do good rather than sin. In our contemporary world filled with power-hungry supervisors, we can use our power to reveal love and compassion rather than slavery. When we have power we must live by the example set by God.

God used His power to save us. He used His power to love us. He used His power to teach us how to use our power. “But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one.” Saint Paul was right. Christ used His power for Good. It is time for us to do the same.