TOTAL DEPENDENCY Kay Keith Peebles 1/18/2019 19.01
We have all probably heard the phrase “self-made man”. This idiom was first used on February 2, 1832. A United States senator named Henry Clay was the first person to introduce the saying. One of the people the phrase most personified at that time period was Benjamin Franklin. Clay’s saying was coined to epitomize those men who had been extremely successful in the manufacturing business. It was meant to honor them, acknowledging the fact that they seemingly grew into greatness from some power within themselves which was unrelated to their personal circumstances. Describing their rise to notoriety, power and wealth these men demonstrated perseverance and hard work to reach their goals. However it did not ensure that their methods were completely moral or ethical. Having been born into poverty, they had not risen in stature through inheriting wealth from their ancestors. It was believed their wealth and prominence grew from resources like ingenuity which originated from within them.
By the 1950’s the term was generally applied to all who rose in the business world to a stature of being nationally and/or internationally recognized and respected. One claiming to be a self-made man gives no credit to God their creator; sadly it gives all the glory and credit to the man.
Similarly, the song “My Way” was made popular by the singing artist Frank Sinatra in 1969. Paul Anka wrote the lyrics to the song in 1967 and it was paired with the French song “Comme d’habitude”. Some of the Lyrics are as follows: “I’ve lived a life that’s full. I’ve traveled each and every highway and more, much more than this I did it my way…I planned each charted course each careful step along the byway and more, much more than this, I did it my way…To think I did all that and may I say, not in a shy way oh no, no, not me I did it my way.” This song is an anthem to pride and presumption in man.
The phrase “self-made man” and the song “My Way” perfectly exemplify the independent “spirit” in the world. That world view is the complete opposite to that of a Christian. The believers acknowledge that they can do nothing apart from God! Jeremiah 10:23 says, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”
Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5.
We see the need for the dependency of the believer upon the LORD in the story of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. During their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness the Lord provided them with manna which was their daily bread, water which came from a rock, and fowl which the Lord sent for them to eat. He led them in the right direction by a cloud during the day and at night by a fiery pillar of light. Scripture says that neither their clothes nor their shoes wore out and none of them were sick or weak in the 40 year trek. The Lord sought to draw the people back to Himself by proving to them He could be trusted to guide and direct them, giving them everything they needed to not only survive but also thrive.
Rather than trusting in the Lord and becoming dependent upon His provision, many of the Israelites rejected His presence, complained about what He had provided for them and disobeyed His instructions on how much manna to glean each day. Instead of being grateful, they began to grumble and rebel against Moses and the Lord. An entire generation died in the wilderness wandering and going nowhere. They would never enter their Promised Land because their anthem was “I did (want) it my way”!
Total dependency upon the LORD God must be learned. It does not come naturally. The Israelites understood all too well as they saw the Lord judge one rebellion after another. He had offered them blessing in every area of their lives if they would follow Him. He planned for their Promised Land to be flowing with milk and honey signifying a fruitful existence in the blessing and favor of God. Instead, Joshua and Caleb were the only two men of their generation (age) who entered into the Promised Land. All the others insisted on doing things “their way” and they died in the wilderness. See Joshua 5:6.
Our Christian life is to be one of death to self (“my way”) resulting in life in Christ Jesus. “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28. The term live in that passage is the Greek word Zao deriving from Zoe meaning to be warm, to have life, to be alive. Key Word Bible. Our natural life comes from the creator and our spiritual life comes through Him. Those who want to do things their way are independent from Him and they are motivated by unbelief, fear and rebellion. Some live for their own glory, not God’s. When the Israelites grumbled and complained about the bread the Lord gave them they were rejecting Jesus, their Messiah Who would come to take away their sins. “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3. God was trying to show them He was their bread that sustains their life. John 6:48.
Jesus taught regarding our daily needs, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33. This does not mean we don’t work. It means neither we nor our job is to be our provider. The Lord gives us work to do. He provides the seed, the rain, and the increase. We are to provide the labor to plant and to harvest, but the Lord is our Provider. “But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your father, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18. Wealth here is our covenant blessing and favor from God. See Deuteronomy 28. It is all encompassing. Strong’s Concordance defines wealth as resources, strength, virtue, valor, riches, substance, and ability.
John 1:3 explains that all things were made through Jesus. Everything that has ever existed could not have been made without Him. Our very being was created by the Lord. The Apostle Paul humbly declared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 3:13. Finally, Galatians 6:3 surmises, “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
Jesus wanted to teach His disciples to be confident in their ministry when they completely and unequivocally put their trust in Him. He sent out His 12 disciples with some powerful instructions. “He gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.’” Luke 9:1-6. In Matthew Chapter 10 Jesus also commanded them to cleanse the lepers and raise the dead!
Jesus sent His disciples out without any physical protection, no food, minimal clothing and no bag of money or supplies. They had to believe in His provision for the power to heal the sick, cast out the demons, raise the dead, and to preach the Gospel of the kingdom. In addition, they had to trust Him to provide those who would feed, house and protect them. Their wages might have come in tunics or talents but they were to trust Him for it all! When they returned, their testimony was powerful but there were no complaints about the lack of provision for their needs.
We His 21st century disciples must do the same. We must know Him as our provider like Abraham. We must grasp that He is our Bread of Life and our Living Water. We must allow the Holy Spirit to be our Cloud by day and Fire by night leading and guiding us into all truth. We must know His Word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We must sit in His Presence and know Him as Moses knew Him and spoke to Him face to face as friend to friend.
We alone are incapable of completing the work which The Lord has assigned us to do. Without Him we can do nothing but with Him all things are possible. We must not seek the glory of men in pride but we must seek the Glory of God to empower us to do what He has called us to do giving Him all the Glory for the results. When we have faith in Him alone our calling will be sure and our path straight. When we become nothing so that He can become EVERYTHING, absolutely nothing can stop us.
The enemy will always throw a problem in our path to try to keep us from our destiny. His intention is to not only distract us but disrupt the plans God has for us. Our reaction must be to make no provision for ourselves but in everything put our complete faith and trust in God! Miracles happen when we become TOTALLY DEPENDENT upon Him!
