Be careful what you wish for…Power – 18 October 2007

In 1887, historian Lord Acton wrote: "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

Perhaps you don’t agree with the sentiment, yet there are many dictators who have been corrupted by power and have followed a downward spiral into brutality and ruthlessness. Think of Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein and Robert Mugabe – the list is a long one.

Solomon was powerful and wealthy – having everything he wished for. He asked for wisdom and received it. He built the temple in Jerusalem. Towards the end of his life, he was corrupted by the many foreign wives he had – worshipping other gods:

The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD's command.
1 Kings 11:9-10 [NIV]

When we have too much power we start to deceive ourselves and think that we are in control of our destiny. Instead, the powerless have a better idea of their place with respect to our all-powerful God.

Jesus made this point very clearly in the Beatitudes:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3-10 [NIV]

Lord, you are powerful – we are powerless without you. That’s the way you made us. Amen