Power divides – weakness unites – Those who seek to be in control, to have the power to have it their way divide. They divide people into factions. They divide hearts. They divide the mind, will and spirit.
This division comes because I must have it my way. I need to be in control. I want the power to force my will onto you. This investment of strength to make others conform divides homes, families, churches and nations.
Weakness unites – When I can admit that I do not have all answers, I draw others together. We come to work together to find the answers. If I reveal that I need support, I draw others together to help me stand. Why does weakness unite? We all recognize our own frailties in the weaknesses of others. Each one realizes that he or she does not stand alone for there is another who is as weak as I.
We discover in the midst of our weaknesses, God. Once we acknowledge our frailties and admit weakness then God’s power can be made perfect within us. We discover in humble weakness divine strength.
Brennan Manning writes: “In conversation, the poor man always leaves the other person with the feeling, ‘My life has been enriched by talking with you.’ And it has…. He doesn’t overwhelm him with his wealth of insights; … He listens well because he realizes that he is poor and has so much to learn from others.” (Reflections of Ragamuffins, page 306)
This attitude unites us together. We develop a bond of love for our brothers and sisters. We are poor and weak together. We stand united in the common bond of God’s strength. Jesus told the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” NIV
Power divides – weakness unites – what do you think?
