Are You Self-sufficient or God-Reliant?
Are you “self-sufficient?” Or are you “God-Reliant”?
I ask you, as I ask myself, “what do I actually, honestly, put my trust in?”
~ My health?
~ My wealth?
~ My position or power?
~ My job for financial stability?
~ My professional knowledge?
~ My social status?
~ My social media circle?
~ The strength of my personality? i.e. Am I an “I got this!” kind of person?
~ Or even my church circle and role there?
Most of us are dependent on others for one or more aspects of our lives, and that’s okay - we are truly to be there for one another, and “ bear one another’s burdens.” [Gal 6:2]
But sometimes there can be a fine line between needing help and rejecting help. It simply comes down to pride if we see ourselves as totally self-sufficient. And though we may know, “Pride cometh before a fall” [Proverbs 16:18], we need to be careful that whatever degree of comfort or security in which we find ourselves, creates a habit of not looking to God as our provider.
I don’t want to be like the guy who tore down his silos and planned to build new ones in Jesus’ parable.
“And He (Jesus) told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Or how about the “rich young ruler”:
“And someone came to Him and said, ‘Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?’ And He said to him, ‘Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ [Matthew 19:16-17, 20-23 NASB1995]
We’re not all called to literally do this, but in our hearts, where do we put our trust? What is it, exactly, that makes our life meaningful? Remember that Jesus reminded us, “One’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.” [Luke 12:15. ESV]
On the “upside” of “God Reliance”, there is the Apostle Paul :
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” [Philippians 4:11-13 NASB1995]
> God provided for Paul both in prison and on his journeys, so he wasn’t self-sufficient, he was God reliant….He even later in that passage prayed for his fellow believers, someone whom had provided monetarily for him that they likewise trust in God to provide, by saying, “And my God will supply all YOUR needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” [Matt 6:33 NASB 1995]
Like the birds noted below, God is our provider even if we don’t realize it :
And He (Jesus) said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! Yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. [Luke 12:16-24 NASB1995]
There is much more to this that Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5, 6, & 7.
In Psalm 37:25, the psalmist says, “I WAS YOUNG BUT NOW I AM OLD, BUT I’VE NEVER SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN OR HIS CHILDREN BEGGING FOR BREAD.”
He is “Jehovah Jireh, My Provider” [Gen 22:14] ….Let’s all ask God for the desire to truly be God-reliant, and not trust in our own strength.
[All scriptures taken from the YouVersion Bible app, https://bible.com]