“With great power comes great responsibility” is a quotation that has entered the popular culture lexicon over the last couple of decades as a result in the Spider-Man franchise. However, the same idea has been around since biblical times! In Luke 12: 48, Jesus tells us that, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” If we have anything – money, authority, ability, status – then more is expected of us as a result.
We all know this. It’s why we’re so quick to get upset when people in positions of power don’t do their jobs right, from politicians to footy umpires. (Have any Adelaide Crows fans forgiven that goal umpire yet?!) But neither should we forget that we ourselves hold a lot of power in our hands, in our workplaces, in our families, in our material wealth and possessions that make us able to do things that many others in this world can’t. How do we use that power?
Like many other things we have discussed in our Generosity series – forgiveness, hospitality, wealth and more – power is an important part of generosity. We must use our power, the power God has given us, generously. How, after all, did Jesus use His power? He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19: 10). And He gave us the power to do even greater things than He did (John 14: 12).
So, let’s be aware of the power we hold, and take our responsibilities seriously!
(James Ross-Naylor)