Back To Home Page To Archives - Spring of Life - H. Roger Bothwell The Maxim If we hear something many times we no longer question its veracity. For instance, "Power corrupts. Absolute power absolutely corrupts." It has become a maxim. We hold it to be true not only because we have heard it so many times but also because supporting evidence is easy to find. However, in a commencement address economist Arthur Burns said, "I do not hold with those who say that power corrupts men. Rather, it is the other way around; men without morality corrupt power." * There it is: the answer to something that has haunted me for decades. If the old maxim was true than why is God good? Not only is He powerful, He is omnipotent. There is nothing anyone or anything could do to stop Him from doing anything He wants. Some might want to say at this point, "God is not a man therefore the maxim does not hold true for Him." But we are not talking about nature here. We are talking about principles. God has morality. Power in His hands is always safe. And so we ask why is God moral? Because "God is love." (I John 4:16) When we say this we are not talking about sentimentality. We are talking about a principle of genuine care and concern. God cares. Because He cares He will not misuse His power. The rest of I John 4:16 is very intriguing. It says, "He that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him." If so then you can be trusted with great power. *1970 commencement address at Hebrew University in Jerusalem I'm Roger Bothwell and my address is roger.bothwell@verizon.net or 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453. Thank you for your support of our faith ministry. Past devotionals can be accessed at Archives