God has granted us the dignity of causation – the power and ability to make things happen. And this authority has been given to us to bring more life and goodness into the world. But all too often we’ve abdicated this power and much unnecessary suffering has been the result.
To be sure, while abuses in power are certainly damaging, the abdication of power can be just as destructive. Our homes, organizations, and communities all experience a failure to thrive when we as leaders don’t fully own our positions of power.
On the home front, it’s considered a type of neglect not to provide our children with resources they need to live well. And this also includes teaching and training them in the way they should go. We leave them vulnerable to negative influences and more prone to be taken out by evil when we abdicate our responsibility in their life. Our passivity is not harmless.
And this is true in marriage and our communities as well. We’re called to use our words to bring out the best in our wife. And we risk her true beauty remaining hidden when we don’t exercise the power of our life giving words. Likewise, our communities become more divided, corrupt, and filled with despair when we don’t use our strength to make a meaningful impact for good.
It’s tempting to believe no harm no foul when we’re not maliciously causing pain to others. But the absence of the negative is not enough when we’re not also intentionally bringing the presence of the positive. And we’ve abdicated our power when we’re not actively doing our part to cultivate the good.
In the end, you’ve been called to bring more life and goodness into the world. And this requires you to faithfully exercise the authority and strength God has given you. Abdicating your power brings much heartache and grief.
Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Unsplash
