Lust for power Quote by Timothy J. Keller
““Jesus’s example and grace heals our will to power. The normal response to our sense of powerlessness is to deny it, to find people to dominate and control in order to live in that denial. But Jesus shows us another way. By giving up his power and serving, he became the most influential man who ever lived. Jesus is not only an example, however, he is a Savior. Only by admitting our sin, need, and powerlessness, and by casting ourselves on his mercy, will we finally become secure in his love, and therefore empowered in a way that does not lead us to oppress others. The insecurity is gone, the lust for power is cut at the root. As a preacher once said, “The way up is to go down; the way down is to go up.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Reason for God by Timothy Keller, 2008
True power comes from humility and service, not domination; admitting our weakness opens us to divine love and genuine influence.
In simple terms: Humility beats domination.
Key Takeaway
Serve to lead.
Themes
humility
service
spirituality
power
influence
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
spiritual
motivational
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- personal growth
- conflict resolution
- community building
Key Concepts
Christian theology
psychology of power
redemptive love
Questions to Reflect On
- How does admitting weakness change your relationships?
- What does serving look like in daily life?
A Different Perspective
True power still requires personal responsibility and discernment.
![“Everybody wants power. Power in some form or other. [...] Some people want power to persecute other human beings; you expend your lust for power in persecuting words, twisting them, molding them, torturing them to obey you.” quote by Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/368/aldous-huxley-97_lust-for-power_everybody-wants-power-power-in-some-form_454453.jpg)
