Diane felt out of control in her life. When she met George she knew he was the answer to all her problems. He was a very successful businessman with many people in his employment. After twenty years with the same company, he knew exactly how things needed to be done and how to make sure they got done exactly the way they needed to be done. The employees knew George had a solution to every problem and could tell them step by step how to accomplish the necessary task. His excellence in leadership had been awarded frequently.
Since George was so accustomed to running things in an orderly fashion at work, he shared his expertise with Diane all the time. “He says I do a wonderful job preparing the meals he likes, but I need to learn a little more about using spices. Yesterday I received a special lesson on folding the bath towels correctly. If I miss a weed in the flowerbeds, he is sure to show me exactly where it is. He continuously reminds me that if I just follow his instructions everything will run smoothly. I just don’t know what I would do without him, but there are some times when I would sure like to find out.” Diane did not have the solution for the frustration, anger, turmoil, and rejection she felt.
In the Insight Journal we suggested that you consider how each person in the examples of chapter 1 used
people to search for satisfaction,
positions to seek fulfillment, and
possessions to produce significance.
In our evaluation of Diane we can note that she looked to George, and her position as his wife to empower her life.
Diane was drawn to George by the very things that also seemed to repel her – security and control. When we posture to procure what God freely offers from a source other than Christ, we are sure to be made a slave of the counterfeit source.
Diane was empowered with George’s strong personality promising her security, but she failed to ask, “How can my relationship with Christ bring security and order?” Unfortunately most of us seek control and security apart from Christ because we have not lived in a relevant relationship that has taught us to trust His reality, love, and sovereignty. When we can live supported by the Three Pillars of Christianity – God is real, therefore He is relevant; God is love, therefore He is compassionate; and God is sovereign, therefore He is trustworthy; then we can find Him to be our reason for living, our resource for thriving, and our resolution to crisis. But if we insist that love, security, and significance can be found in people, positions, and possessions, then we will be empowered by what will ultimately disappoint.
What empowers your life?
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