There is a belief in this world that to make a significant difference in this world, one must rise to influence and power as quickly as possible. This belief suggests that in order to help the hurting, protect the innocent, release captives, and bring healing, you must have the power to do something about it and the influence to reach people. If you do not have these two things, change will not come.
So, to be the change we want to see, we attempt to gather power and influence. It’s to help people, so it’s honorable. Right?
The only problem with this belief is that it does not align with God.
In Matthew 4, the devil temps Jesus with power and influence to change the world. He offers to hand over the entire world to Jesus. Can you imagine the temptation to buy into this power dynamic? Jesus was sent to earth to save it, and here before Him stood the source of the problem of this world (the devil) offering Jesus the keys to the kingdom of this world. Scripture says clearly that Jesus was tempted in the desert. That means that this offer from the devil was tempting! He wanted to go for it!
But He didn’t. Why not?
It cost too much. To obtain this power and influence to make a difference, Jesus had to fall down and worship the devil. This was the offer: serve the devil and rule the world. Far too often we find ourselves justifying the end for the means. Because people are being helped, because people are receiving ministry, because we have power and influence to make a difference, because rivers are being cleaned, the poor are fed, and whales are no longer beached, we ignore or even justify buying into the tragic worship of the devil.*
These words are strong, but they are true. I have been guilty. At a time in my life, I wanted power and influence so badly to “make a difference” that I allowed the call of God on my life to become an idol that I pursued with all of my soul, mind, and strength. This grieved God, and you know who was smiling the whole time? The devil.
God has another way. The way of God looks like laying down as low as possible in worship of God so that you are even lower than those you seek to serve. His way to make a difference is to do everything that you can to get out of the way so that God can work around you and through you to change the lives of His people. Through this, you might find yourself holding power and influence, but the pursuit of power and influence to see change is idolatry. The pursuit of God that trusts Him with how change will come is His way.
Today, take just one step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is one of repentance. Perhaps God is calling you to lay down the idol of influence and power. Maybe today God wants you to trust Him with the people you love enough to allow Him to change them through your submission to Him. Perhaps the one step today is to invite God to teach you to serve and work as our humble Lord Jesus did. Maybe God wants you to stop waiting for power and influence and just start serving as lowly as possible so that He can change some people.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Insights on the temptation of Jesus: Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992.