The Power of Love and Love of Power
Martin Luther King, Jr. the abuse of love, the abuse of power, and the proper use of both in tandem.
Song writers for years have mused over the force of feelings that come with love. This power of love can drive one to perform crazy antics of service he or she never thought possible. It can take over one’s thoughts and emotions, distracting him or her from the other priorities of the day. It, in essence, is out of one’s control and once it gets going it gains momentum feverishly, yes passionately. It beckons. It encompasses. So we say that someone is “in love” – as in, overwhelmed by its surrounding and uncontrollable nature power.
Ambitious companies strive for the control that comes with power. This love of power can drive such companies to engage in strategies they had never before considered. It can take over a board’s thoughts and emotions, distracting it from the other priorities of the day. It, in essence, offers a sense of control and superiority. “Nobody can stand in our way,” is a battle call any company worth its stock would like to cry out from the top of the business hill. So we say that someone “has the power” – as in, the ability to haul out the heat at any time and forcibly take control of any situation.
Love and power. Sad to say, when either functions without the other we have a disaster on our hands. Martin Luther King, Jr. understood this all too well, and incorporated the truth into his speeches. He warned about the abuse of love, the abuse of power, and the proper use of both in tandem.
“Power without love is reckless and abusive and ... love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice ... Power and morality must go together, implementing, fulfilling, and ennobling each other ... Power at its best is the right use of strength.”
A government with no loving concern for the people is tyrannical in its power. People with no strong arm of the law to protect them and give them peace are vulnerable in their love. The same could be said about the ultimate when it comes to power and love – God.
Many imagine God to be a brute, driven by the love of power. Others imagine God to be a like a boss who chums around with his department like they are his best buddies and everyone loves him, but he can’t get the job done. The Bible describes God as wielding his power but only with the love that shows restraint or rebuke whichever is necessary, and as pouring out his love but always with the power to do something useful. It’s all detailed for our doubting hearts in one term. His right hand.
A right hand is typically viewed as the stronger hand (sorry, lefties, where do you think the term “right hand man” came from?). A right hand is also courteously extended to shake (sorry, again) as a sign of genuine faithfulness and forthrightness.
Psalm 98 proclaims that the Lord “has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness ... and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” His is no sentimental but sissy power of love. His is no ambitious but abusive love of power.
Your God puts to use power at its best, with love for you and your spiritual well being. He rips the devil’s hold loose from your soul every day. He shakes up your worldly securities so that you must turn to him. He hides you in the embrace of his outstretched arms. He beckons you through the rock solid tomb of death into eternal paradise.
Your God pours out his love at its best, with a power that makes him able to accomplish his loving choices in your life. If he wants to bless you with a child or grandchild nothing will stop him except his own loving wisdom. If he wants to cure you of cancer no physical barrier can prevent him, only the spiritual well being of his child that he cares for the most. If he wants to direct your career in another direction no vice-president has authority over him, only the plans scripted in heaven. If he wants to hear your prayer (and he does) and forgive and forget what you confess, no guilt is strong enough to bribe him into demanding payment from you in return.
No greater power. No greater love. No greater God. No greater salvation.
PRAYER: Hear my prayer, O God of loving power and powerful love, and bless me as you promise though I deserve much less. Forgive me for doubting your power, and for not respecting your love. Make me bold in the shadow of your strong right hand. Inspire me with your love to choose what is right according to your Word. Amen.