The Four Tenets of Not-So-With-YOUPrimjer

Power or Service? An unpalatable choice!

Ever since the fall, the natural wiring of all human beings is to use the powers we have, to subdue and rule over others. People who have physical power, tend to intimidate others. Positional power is most often used to make oneself feel important. Intellectual power is used for ridiculing others. Financial power is used to gain more wealth. Racial/societal power is used to gain other types of power and to discriminate against the not-so-privileged. The list can go on. The story of Rehoboam described in 1 Kings 12 and 2 Chronicles 10 is a true testimony of how we tend to use the powers we have. Rehoboam had a very clear choice to make and he was even told the benefit of doing it the “serving” way. He was told explicitly by the people that they would serve him if he lightened their burden (1 Kings 12:4). He was advised about the great relationship he would have with his people if he chose to serve them.“If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” (1 Kings 12:7, NKJV). Despite all that, he consciously chose to use his power to subdue and rule over the people.

Rehoboam was not an Exception

We can analyze Rehoboam’s choice and make him into a bad person, but history shows that he has legions of company of people who made the same choice (of using power to subdue and rule over others). Corporate, political, or military history…if you study any history, you will come across leaders who did this. And yes, church history has not been any better. Jesus was thinking about the line of rulers, kings, false prophets, High Priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees when He said Not-So-With-You. Remember, Jesus gave the Not-So-With-You command fully knowing the powers He had. John 13:3, NKJV tells us, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God ;

Self-Reflection

Let us pause for a moment and think about the powers that we have: powers that come from being a parent, an elder sibling, an elder in the church, a church committee member, an earning member in the family, the only one who is supporting our aged parents, a leader of a team, or in charge of an organization. Let us examine how we are using this power. Are we using it as Jesus asked us to, or are we using it as Rehoboam did?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I am grateful for all the points of power that you have given to me. I am so grateful that you provided an example of how to use the power we have. Please free me from the default state of using the power to suppress or exploit others, so I can serve others, as you did!