Sr. Rosy Malekudy FHGS
“The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mt.20:28
I suspect whether there is any other Scriptures that take power so seriously as the Bible. Mahatma Gandhi too took power very seriously. Few years ago, it happened to read an article written by Edamattam Ratnappan that was titled “Take care of Power.” It was a concept from Gandhi. His satire was that Gandhi devotees today understand it to hold on to power rather than being cautious of it. There are so many parables in the Bible! Perhaps the earliest parable ever recorded in the Bible is about power. The first parable is Jotham’s – Gideon’s son- speech to the people of Shechem on a mountain.
The trees wanted to have a king. They approached the olive tree and asked to rule over them. The olive shunned by saying that I am not to rule over you, leaving my oil, which is most beneficial to gods and men. Then they approached the fig tree and made the same request. The fig tree also rejected it saying that I am not here to rule over you, giving up my sweet fruits. Then they approached the vine and the vine declined them saying I am not to rule over you, forsaking my wine so dear to people. Then they approached bramble and repeated their demand. Bramble said, “if that’s what you want, I’ll do it. Then he ordered all the trees including the magnificent cedars of Lebanon, to come and take shelter under him. If they disobeyed, he would send fire and burn all of them.
What a powerful parable! The towering cedars trees in Lebabon stood for the men of learning in the society. Throughout the Bible, the bramble or thornbush is a representation for people of selfishness. How many thornbush rulers are there today!
Power is the legitimate authority or right of control one has over others. There are people who command and respect due to their leadership qualities, service-mindedness, knowledge, etc. There are others who have authority just because they are holding an office of power. This power/authority is meant not to dominate or to subjugate but to serve, unify and vivify. It is exercised through suggestion, motivation, and persuasion.
Authority does not enforce obedience by fear, but commands it in love. Once a person feels loved and respected , he/she will certainly be glad and generous to take orders from the competent authority. Here, a genuine service is rendered and relationship is strengthened. On the other hand, when obedience is forced upon others it can only make them reactive and rebellious. This type of authority is temporary.
People with a genuine sense of authority do not do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast but are humble towards one another (Phil.2:3). Service, self-emptying, self-control, self-knowledge and integrity are signs of genuine authority. People of authority are those who make themselves and others comfortable. They have a healthy sense of themselves as good. They are people-oriented rather than success-oriented. However, all these without the thirst for God (love), is like a flower without fragrance.
“Heroes extract gold from the opportunities in hand, rather than waiting for golden opportunities to be handed to them.”
