“Trust in the LORD with ALL YOUR HEART and LEAN NOT on YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT. Do not be wise in your own eyes; FEAR THE LORD and shun evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)
The Bible is full of stories where people try to be SELF-SUFFICIENT instead of obeying God’s commands or waiting for His promises to manifest. One example of self-reliance is King Saul, the first king of Israel. When God first chose King Saul, he was humble but lost his humility as he experienced battle victories. In 1 Samuel 13, we see that King Saul overstepped his boundaries and got out of order when he offered a sacrifice to God. Offering this sacrifice was NOT FOR KING SAUL TO DO BUT WAS A TASK GIVEN TO SAMUEL, the prophet. In this chapter, King Saul impatiently offered the sacrifice because Samuel had not yet arrived, but Samuel came as soon as he had finished presenting the unlawful burnt offering. So, Samuel said to Saul “…now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him (Daivid) to be commander over His people, because you have NOT KEPT what the LORD commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
As we learn to turn to the Lord for everything, WE SURRENDER to His ability to work out our situation correctly. He can provide us with all of Heaven’s resources to help. Sometimes, He may even allow others to come alongside us and share our burden, but we will never realize God’s help IF WE ARE STUCK IN SELF–RELIANCE. God sent His ONLY SON JESUS, who died on the cross, rose again, and sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to help us live this life. Rather than try to manage anything BY OURSELVES, we can look to Jesus. He will give us WISDOM. He will STRENGTHEN US to achieve whatever He sets us out to do, not because we are strong, but because He is ALWAYS FAITHFUL HAS UNLIMITED RESOURCES. “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will EMPOWER YOU with INNER STRENGTH through His Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham