The Most Wicked Side of Self-Reliance

A few years ago, I had to face the fact that I was trying to live life without God. Oh, I was saved. I prayed, read my Bible, and went to church every time the doors were open. "I trust You, God", I would pray. But instead of resting and letting God work out my situations, I worked them out. I "fixed" them.

Of course, we all know when we do it ourselves, we mess everything up. As usual, it all landed in a heap at my feet. So finally I stepped back and said, "I don't want to make another decision without You, Lord." My life has been MUCH more peaceful. God's plans never fail. Cindy's plans...well, you know.

This past week, I was praying for someone who was dealing with pain and trauma from their past. I kept thinking of ways I could help. I knew of some things they needed, so I was figuring out how to help them get that. Anytime someone is dealing with health issues or emotional issues, I immediately start thinking of the list of herbs I love and how this, that, and the other can help them.

The Holy Spirit stopped me in my tracks. Even though I have been doing better about relying on God for things I need, here I was relying on myself to help this person. Self-reliance is a sneaky little devil! This side of self-reliance is truly wicked. I was putting myself in God's place in this person's life, trying to be their Savior and Provider. That's the last thing they need. I am human and guaranteed to fail them at some point.

John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

I can't do ANYTHING without God. I am helpless and hopeless without Him, even when I am helping others. My actions and my words, without the power of the Holy Spirit behind them, are useless.

While I was in school studying natural medicine, I suddenly wanted to help everyone. I could see so many things that could be truly life-changing for others. I gave lots of unsolicited advice, helped people who tolerated me while I went on and on about balancing their pH and taking their probiotics. I even begged a few people to let me consult, at no cost, so I could gain experience and help them improve their health. Honestly, I couldn't even give it away.

I believe if the Lord had allowed me to find great success in this field from the very beginning, I would have tried to save the world. I would have continued in my arrogance, which had already led me to bitterness. I am thankful the Holy Spirit dealt with me that day to cease from my labors and just pray for the person I was trying to help.

Lesson learned.

Here are some Scriptures about self-reliance:

• Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God... 2 Corinthians 3:5

• Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

• For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Romans 12:3

• And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: 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 ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ Luke 12:16-21

• But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6

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