In these times I hear a lot of talk about self-sufficiency. I
have books with self-sufficiency in the title and I read a lot of blogs and web sites about
self-sufficiency. It is right and well to live a more frugal and perhaps
old-timey lifestyle. However, as I reflect on the term, I am sure that it is
most definitely NOT my goal to be self-sufficient.
You see, I must admit that I am as totally dependent as any
city-dweller and therefore I can never be self-sufficient in the least. I am
fully and totally dependent on my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the one
that gives me faith, life, salvation, a family, a will to live, strength to
face tomorrow, a job, competence, desire and ability to do all the things I
need to do. But also he provides every morsel of food and every last bit of
energy I consume. In all areas of my life I must acknowledge that He is the one
that provides for me. In and of myself I can do absolutely nothing (see John
15:5). As the Apostle Paul said, “For in him we live, and move, and have our
being;” (Acts 17:28a).
Practically speaking, the more things I try to grow, the
more I realize that they are provided by the Lord. When I buy a bag of frozen
chicken at Walmart, I hardly give it a second thought or perhaps a quick prayer
of thanks just as I am eating the prepared chicken. But when I raise a batch of
broilers, feed and water them daily for eight weeks, move their cage daily, worry
about them, protect them, then kill them, and finally process them for the
freezer – I begin to realize that my
food is not just a financial transaction. I become almost overwhelmed with
thankfulness with this precious gift of food that He has provided. At any step
in the process the Lord could allow the whole process to stop. I see that the
Lord provides safety, protection from disease, growth, and life. Same with the
garden and a myriad of other “self-sufficiency” tasks. I think that back in the
old days there was a lot more awareness of the helplessness of man and of the
greatness of God. I can’t help the chickens grow or the crops grow, but I lean
on the one who can!
Only in the industrial age did man start thinking that he
was going to provide for himself, and didn’t need the Lord to supply each and
every need. Just flip a switch or pull a lever and the next need was met.
Instantaneously. In less modern times man inherently knew he had to depend on a
heavenly Provider, whether or not he had a relationship with Him.
I pray, “Lord Jesus please help me to never be
self-sufficient in any thing but to be Christ-sufficient in all things.”
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any
thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;” - 2 Corinthians 3:5
KJV
- Daddy
Excellent post and I totally agree!
ReplyDeleteThanks. The longer I live the more I see how truly helpless I am without Him. - Daddy
DeleteThank you! Wonderful words to live by!!
ReplyDelete