Ministry Resources

Coffee Stains: Hands Up!

Author: David Porter

A friend of mine was playing cowboys with his two year old son Samuel. The toddler took to the game like an old hand. The next morning the little one walked into the bedroom where his visiting aunt was staying and commanded, “Hands up!” The aunt, amused, complied then the little one continued, “Now, take me to McDonald‘s!” The fellow thought he was in a position of power but his play pistol didn’t command a lot of respect and McDonalds had to wait for another day. Your actions when you have the advantage over another person tell a lot about you.

David the fugitive had Saul the king at a disadvantage in the cave and could have easily slipped up behind the delusional leader to jam his sword into his back (1 Samuel 24:6). But he didn’t. “How can I touch the man God has anointed?” he said in effect. He left it up to God to deal with the crazy ruler.

How do we act when we know some juicy gossip that‘s just waiting to be told but we also know that what we say will hurt the person we‘re talking about? Do we shut up or run off at the mouth to put the other fellow down, hoping it will put us higher up the ladder? Don‘t abuse a position of power. Solomon had a dream that we dream of having. God basically told him to ask whatever he wanted. Whoa! Money? Power? Giant banana splits? What would you ask for in a position of power like that? (1 Kings 3:5) The young king asked for wisdom to rule God‘s because he sensed his inadequacy. People have fought and killed for what Solomon could have had for the asking, but the young king revealed his heart by his requests. Too bad he didn’t remember the lesson later on.

You show what you are by the way you treat the waiter at the restaurant, the children in your class, your employees, your wife, people in your church, or anyone that you have an advantage over. Do you abuse your authority or do you use your authority to build them up and help them? Power must be coupled with mercy to be used correctly. Don‘t run over people or magnify yourself so that you think you look good to others. Your use of power, authority and advantage tells us what you are. Here‘s how God treats those weaker than He is (which is 100% of us):

“He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Is. 40:28-30, NKJV)

Let‘s go and do likewise.

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