A mason was working on a concrete slab outside a 20-storey building when a man casually dressed in jeans and a shirt walked up to him and asked, “How long will it take you to finish this job?”
The mason responded, “How is that your business? Am I working for you?” In that moment, the contractor who hired the mason walked over briskly and said, “he will be done tomorrow, sir”.
The man just smiled, nodded and walked away.
The mason asked his boss, “who is that man?”
The contractor replied, “He owns the building! You ARE literally working for him!”
I saw this scene in a movie several years ago.
Pirelli is an Italian multinational tyre manufacturing company based in Milan, Italy. They have a slogan: POWER IS NOTHING WITHOUT CONTROL.
The casually dressed man wielded a lot of POWER. When the mason was rude to him, he could have reacted differently: he could have asked the contractor to sack him immediately, he could have terminated the contract, he could have done anything!
But he just smiled and walked away.
That is a man that understands POWER and CONTROL.
Before David became the King of Israel, he was a fugitive hiding from King Saul who wanted to kill him. He once sent his men to a man called Nabal, a very rich man who David’s men had helped protect his cattle from rustlers and bandits. David asked him to give something- anything to show gratitude for the job they did. Nabal responded in a very nasty manner that angered David.
David then swore an oath that he would kill Nabal and all his men! David had POWER, but he did not understand CONTROL.
David later became King over Israel after Saul had died. One day, his son executed a coup against him and he had to flee from Jerusalem with his Might Men. As he was in transit with these warriors, One man started throwing stones at him, cursing him!
King David approached Bahurim. As he did, a man came out toward him. The man was from the same family group that Saul was from. His name was Shimei. He was the son of Gera. As he came out of the town, he cursed David. He threw stones at David and all his officials. He did it even though all the troops and the special guard were there. They were to the right and left of David. Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, spoke to the king. He said, “King David, why should we let this dead dog curse you? Let me go over there. I’ll cut off his head.”
-2nd Samuel 16:5,6&9
But David refused to let Abishai kill him. He had learned that POWER IS NOTHING WITHOUT CONTROL.
Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. During the arrest, one of his Disciples drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the men who came to arrest Him. Jesus fixed the ear back!
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” -Matthew 26:52-53
In other words, Jesus had POWER to get out of that situation, but He chose not to, that Scripture would be fulfilled.
It is written of Him: “…who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the cross.” -Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus had unlimited POWER, but He humbled Himself and became a Servant. That is a Man who understands that POWER IS NOTHING WITHOUT CONTROL.
Whatever degree of power you have, you don’t have to flaunt it. You don’t need anybody’s validation or approval, you don’t need to show it. It is actually more noble to have it and choose to keep it under control.
That was why Jesus rebuked and restrained His Disciples when they were refused entrance into a Samaritan Village and they asked Him; “Should we call down fire from heaven to consume them like Elisha did?”
When you ever get to the point of wanting to display your power or asking, “Do you know who I am?” you may not be as powerful as you imagined.
Real POWER is seen and it commands respect and honour.
And it is restrained and controlled: you don’t need to display it by calling down fire to burn people like Elisha.
That is very unnecessary…
Shalom,
Haruna Daniels