Power and Influence – being at the end of your rope

Okay, a raise of hands – who has seen power and influence leaving someone at the end of their rope?  After seemingly being at the top, they had come to a place of throwing the towel in to quit. Maybe you’ve been there, waiving the white flag at your business, your competitor, your opponent, an enemy or your spouse, a friend, the church, and maybe even life itself.  And before all of that, things seemed so good as it was skewed by power and influence.  How did that happen? 

Before we dig deeper, let me say good morning, it’s Friday!  Today let us turn our focus on encouraging words focused on Power and Influence.  So today we will look specifically at Power and Influence and who YOU are. Don’t let this leave you at the end of your rope. Let’s take a look at Nebuchadnezzar:

Daniel 4:34-37

³⁴ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. ³⁵ All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.  He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.  No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” 

³⁶ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Look What I Did!

Nebuchadnezzar, as emperor of Babylonia, made great achievements with the military and economically.  But unlike you and I (not able to relate) 😉, he got into this mindset that it was all about him.  “Look what I accomplished,” said Nebuchadnezzar. 

Ever not get recognized for something you did or played a major role in – join the club.  Or maybe you did get recognized and you allowed pride to overtake you.  Because this happens the question is, how did you respond?  I’m pleading the 5^th on this one.  So I, like Nebuchadnezzar, failed to recognize that God had allowed me to accomplish what I did.  For me, no other way was it possible, but yet I wanted the credit.  Thank God for His mercy and grace!

Long story short, King Neb got humbled! But Daniel warned the king through his interpretation of the king’s dream, and the king didn’t heed the warning. He lost everything and became like an animal (vv. 32-33).  The good news for King Neb was that he was restored by a merciful God (v. 34), and became even greater than before (v. 36).

Power and Influence with the wrong focus can lead you to the end of your rope

I think I will remember that lesson, “Glad it was you and not me,” kind of thing, right?  Well, sometimes the best way to learn is from mistakes of others or even better, to learn from the Word of God.  God never bestows positional and personal power as an end in itself. but always as a trust to be exercised with stewardship for the benefit of others. 

Challenge for today – To what extent are you seeking to use your God-given influence in the service of others through acts of kindness?  Today find one ‘random act of kindness’ to do for someone – it could be a simple note; taking someone out to breakfast; a long overdue video phone call to tell someone you love them. So be it!

EXTRA NOTE: One of my fav commercials is a guy delivering a dolly of supplies and as he passes a grandma on the sidewalk, he says, “Good morning beautiful.”  The next scene shows her calling a friend to share that experience and she has a huge smile on her face.