In a 2016 interview, Bible study teacher and author Jen Wilkin, described me. OK, not really, she was describing herself, but the subject might as well have been me. In the interview she said…
“I want to be a person that doesn’t need other people…I just want to be free from being dependent on anyone and that ultimately includes God if you follow it out to its logical conclusion. And I began to realize that it wasn’t just that I wanted to be self-sufficient. It was that when I chased after self-sufficiency a lot of times it drew the approval of man, that people want to elevate a person who seems to be self -sufficient and that’s a really dangerous place to get into…it’s not just that I want to become like God in a way that I ought not to, but…often times the result is that people put you on a pedestal.”
How do you manage to do it all?
I love that you are so independent.
I wish I had your strength.
Self-sufficiency.
Our culture celebrates those who accomplish great things or endure hardships seemingly without any help from others. We see human need as weakness and self-sufficiency as the ultimate achievement. Being self-sufficient seems like an admirable trait. But is it?
In the script for Shadowlands, playwright/screenwriter William Nicholson calls out this delusion: “Self-sufficiency is the enemy of salvation. If you are self-sufficient, you have no need of God.”
For many, many years, I was quite delighted with myself–my independence, self-reliance, autonomy. I was proud of my GPA, my resume, my titles, my awards, of having a reputation for success and efficiency and strength, of having the ability to keep all the plates spinning–and doing this all my own. Right.
My pride blinded me to the loving parents and grandparents who gave me an incredible foundation of a home built on Gospel truth, to the teachers who invested in me and pushed me to reach my potential, to the career mentors who showed me how to lead by their example, to the friends who gave me incessant encouragement.
Infinitely more egregious, my arrogance led me to worship myself instead of my Creator, who imparted to me any small talent or ability I do have, and moment by moment gifts me every breath. I’ve wept over my audacity to fail to acknowledge that everything I have, everything I am is purely a gift of grace from my merciful Provider who somehow puts up with me even when I dare believe that I have endured or achieved anything on my own merit.
As Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 4:7: “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”
Only God is self-sufficient.
We need to acknowledge this fact and put to death the notion that anything good we accomplish is the result of our efforts or abilities. And we need to stop fueling this in others. Instead of putting each other on pedestals, we should rightly ascribe praise to God for the work He does in and through each of us.
Why aren’t we in complete awe that a self-sufficient God, who needs nothing from us, still chooses to gift us and make us His instruments. What?! He elects to use our filthy rags for His purpose and glory.
May we never fail to acknowledge our utter dependence on God. May we never again attempt to take credit for His work. May we never celebrate anyone for self-sufficiency.
Very well said, I have been in some storms in my life, I am going through one right now. I know though, it ain’t nothing compared to what Jesus went through hanging up on the cross for us. I know that this that I am going through shall pass. People will let you down, I will let you down but Jesus will not.
Who ever shall read this, I want you to know that Chris loves you and Jesus really loves you, that is why he died for you on that wooden cross for our sins, so that you wouldn’t have to go to hell but to spend eternity with him.
Chris–your love for Jesus is evident! And you know I am praying for you.