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"I'm self-sufficient. I'm proud of it."
That was me, before I was saved. I was saved by grace of Jesus Christ. My parents were intensely interested in raising their children as "self-sufficient" and "independent". I heard those words so often. I had to 'figure it out' or 'do for myself' more times than not. By the time I reached adulthood, I was proud of all the things I could do by myself, for myself, leaning on no other. Asking for help was anathema.
Of course all the instilling of self-sufficiency was a stumbling block to bending the knee, realizing how hopeless I was on my own, and asking Jesus for help. The fact that He calls us and we don't choose Him is a grace that will manifest itself in untold aspects throughout all eternity. I never would have asked. He chose me.
The pagan heart builds many idols. Any and all idols are in opposition to God. Idols are an enemy of God, and at enmity with Him. For me, the root of all that vaunted self-sufficiency is pride. I was proud of all that I could do. I was proud that I needed no one. I was proud of my capabilities- capabilities I'd cultivated and no one else.
Anything can be an idol. Self-sufficiency is one.
The Chaldeans were swimming in self-sufficiency. This idol permeated their actions and drenched their hearts in evil. Habakkuk proclaimed against it in chapter 2 of the book of Habakkuk. This prophet pronounced 5 woes on the Chaldeans (though they were not named, this was the original target audience.) As scripture has one meaning but many applications, these verses can and do apply to us today as we learn object lessons about doing for ourselves and not bowing to God's will for us.
The fifth woe was the woe upon idolators (2:18–20). In poignant verses, God asks if idols can speak-
What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.(Habakkuk 2:18-19).
Oh! How terrible for the idolater who asks dead wood and stone to speak! How sad we seek instruction from dead objects and not the Living God!
Any and all idols in our hearts teach us lies. We are the maker of the idol, so because of our sin nature, it teaches us the lie of sin. Can stone awaken and instruct us in the ways of righteousness?
"But I don't worship idols," you say. "I don't ask stone or wood to speak."
Do you seek instruction from horoscopes? The sun? "Mother Nature"? Do you rely on your intellect? Your capabilities? Your money? All idols! All dead!
The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23a). God speaks of this New Testament truth in the Old Testament in Habakkuk 2:8, 2:17...
The Good News is that the rest of the Romans verse continues after speaking of the wages of sin, by a glorious promise.
but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:6b)
The antidote to self-sufficiency is humility. As this woman spoke so eloquently on Twitter this week,
Anna Crouse @annacrouse_
-----------------------------------
Resources
Elyse Fitzpatrick: Idols of the Heart
Do you feel discouraged, even defeated, in your battle against habitual sin? Are you dismayed or surprised by the situations that bring out your fear, anger, or distress? Elyse Fitzpatrick delves into the heart of the problem: deep down, we're all idol-worshippers who put our loves, desires, and expectations in God's place—and then suffer the consequences of our misplaced affections. Yet God loves his people and can use even our messy lives and struggles for his glory. Fitzpatrick shows us how to better search and know our hearts, long for our gracious Savior, and resist and crush our false gods. Includes questions for further thought.
That was me, before I was saved. I was saved by grace of Jesus Christ. My parents were intensely interested in raising their children as "self-sufficient" and "independent". I heard those words so often. I had to 'figure it out' or 'do for myself' more times than not. By the time I reached adulthood, I was proud of all the things I could do by myself, for myself, leaning on no other. Asking for help was anathema.
Of course all the instilling of self-sufficiency was a stumbling block to bending the knee, realizing how hopeless I was on my own, and asking Jesus for help. The fact that He calls us and we don't choose Him is a grace that will manifest itself in untold aspects throughout all eternity. I never would have asked. He chose me.
The pagan heart builds many idols. Any and all idols are in opposition to God. Idols are an enemy of God, and at enmity with Him. For me, the root of all that vaunted self-sufficiency is pride. I was proud of all that I could do. I was proud that I needed no one. I was proud of my capabilities- capabilities I'd cultivated and no one else.
Anything can be an idol. Self-sufficiency is one.
The Chaldeans were swimming in self-sufficiency. This idol permeated their actions and drenched their hearts in evil. Habakkuk proclaimed against it in chapter 2 of the book of Habakkuk. This prophet pronounced 5 woes on the Chaldeans (though they were not named, this was the original target audience.) As scripture has one meaning but many applications, these verses can and do apply to us today as we learn object lessons about doing for ourselves and not bowing to God's will for us.
The fifth woe was the woe upon idolators (2:18–20). In poignant verses, God asks if idols can speak-
What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.(Habakkuk 2:18-19).
Oh! How terrible for the idolater who asks dead wood and stone to speak! How sad we seek instruction from dead objects and not the Living God!
Any and all idols in our hearts teach us lies. We are the maker of the idol, so because of our sin nature, it teaches us the lie of sin. Can stone awaken and instruct us in the ways of righteousness?
"But I don't worship idols," you say. "I don't ask stone or wood to speak."
Do you seek instruction from horoscopes? The sun? "Mother Nature"? Do you rely on your intellect? Your capabilities? Your money? All idols! All dead!
The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23a). God speaks of this New Testament truth in the Old Testament in Habakkuk 2:8, 2:17...
The Good News is that the rest of the Romans verse continues after speaking of the wages of sin, by a glorious promise.
but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:6b)
The antidote to self-sufficiency is humility. As this woman spoke so eloquently on Twitter this week,
Anna Crouse @annacrouse_
Humility isn't a burden or humiliation or oppressive weight but is the only posture that can receive the wondrous grace gifts of GodInstead of "I can do it" we say "I can't do it. Lord I need you!"
-----------------------------------
Resources
Elyse Fitzpatrick: Idols of the Heart
Do you feel discouraged, even defeated, in your battle against habitual sin? Are you dismayed or surprised by the situations that bring out your fear, anger, or distress? Elyse Fitzpatrick delves into the heart of the problem: deep down, we're all idol-worshippers who put our loves, desires, and expectations in God's place—and then suffer the consequences of our misplaced affections. Yet God loves his people and can use even our messy lives and struggles for his glory. Fitzpatrick shows us how to better search and know our hearts, long for our gracious Savior, and resist and crush our false gods. Includes questions for further thought.
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