When Christians gain different forms of social influence (e.g., economic, political, educational), we tend to get them tangled up and confused with spiritual forms of authority. Unless one is careful, spiritual resources can be co-opted by social power and we can become dependent on the latter for our sense of well-being.
- Steve Wilkens & Mark Sanford
(Source : Hidden Worldviews)
This is a very helpful observation. Increased social influence always carries the risk of diminishing our spiritual influence. The more popular we become through our personality and skills, the less influential we might become spiritually. The reason is that we can come to easily rely on our social influence to change things rather than on God.
This is a very big temptation I struggle with in many areas of my life. For example, I usually write on economic issues affecting Zambia, and sometimes I easily forget to pray for Zambia. What I say becomes more important than seeking God's face to change things. Similarly in my daily work, I have a tendency to quickly get on with the analytical or empirical problem before me. Very little consideration is given for the abundant spiritual resources available to me or seeking God's opinion on anything.
This problem is not really so much of pride - though that is always present. It is a problem of spiritual amnesia that manifests itself in acute self reliance. I need to daily re-prioritise. To allow the spiritual resources available to me through the Holy Spirit to have full rein. To daily practise the presence of God in everything.
Copyright © Chola Mukanga 2013
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