A Good Kind of Control

Though I have spent about a year in Turkey, I am far from understanding the Turkish language. One thing I have noticed, however, is my trainer’s use of the word, ‘Control.’

For example, if I haven’t had an injury, but want to get an MRI because my knee is hurting, my trainer will explain to the specialists that our reason for being there is for, ‘Control.’ So also if we take our kids to the doctor for a check-up. Or if one of my teammates wants to get taped before practice. To him at least, it’s all about ‘control.’

Now, I’m not sure if the use of such a word is widespread or if my trainer is the only one who uses it in this way here in Turkey. Either way, after hearing him use the word in this context today, I began to reflect upon what he was really saying. And the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. For his use of the word points to a good kind of control, indeed, I can go so far to say, a godly kind of control.

If you think about the scenarios I gave above, when my trainer uses the word, ‘control’ to describe what is taking place, I believe that what he is really saying is, ‘We are being diligent. We are looking ahead. We are trying to stay healthy or prevent something bad from happening. We are staying on tops of things and to remain aware of what is going on. We are exercising control as best we can.’

And if this is what he is really saying, this is very wise. Not only that, but it is biblical. For God is a God who is in control. He is also a God who wants us, indeed, commands us, to exercise control in such a way that we bring Him glory. (For proof on that front, check out Genesis 1:28 and the book of Proverbs).

And if this is truly the case, as it is, we can be sure that control is a good thing, as long as we don’t take it to an extreme. Staying on top of our health or our schedules or our temperament or our home or our studies or even our grass is wise and good. When done in dependence upon Him and with a view towards His honor, it glorifies God and in turn, blesses everyone else.

A question: Can you imagine if everyone in the world exercised control over what they were supposed to, to the degree that they were supposed to? What a wonderful place the world would be.

But that is the way things are supposed to be. We are supposed to be on top of things, to exercise control in our various areas of responsibility in a way that benefits everyone. No manipulation. No over-control. No maneuvering things for our own personal benefit. But controlling things the way we ought to control things, with diligence, discipline, love, patience, wisdom, humility, and every other good thing you can think of.

Sure, it won’t all take place perfectly within the next week. People will continue to seek control over others and over circumstances for their own personal benefit (often with no thought of its effects on others). But one day, things will be made new. At least according to the Bible, Jesus will return and perfect a people who will exercise control perfectly…forever. I can’t wait.

Until then, I will strive to ‘control’ what I ought to control and to trust God with the rest, all with a view towards pointing a way to what is soon to come.