THE SIN OF SELF RELIANCE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated—as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children. So will it happen to you, Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.”

Hosea 10:13b-15

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

“I can handle this.”

How often do we say this to ourselves, even when our circumstances are such that we know we can’t?

And even when we acknowledge our ability to deal with our difficulties, how often do we choose to turn to anyone possible, except the One we should be turning to, the God who has given the promise that He can do all things?

I think we all can say we’ve been guilty of the sin of self reliance at one time or another.

As we look at our closing verses of Hosea 10, we find God calling out His people for doing just that, trusting themselves instead of placing their hope in Him. Look again at these words:

“Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated—as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children. So will it happen to you, Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.”  Hosea 10:13b-15

The Lord makes it clear as to why he will bring the “roar of battle” to rise against His people in the northern kingdom of Israel, a battle that He promised would result in the Israelite fortresses being devastated when the Assyrians attacked and completely destroyed the land to include wiping out Hoshea, Israel’s last king. In fact, once the northern kingdom would be annihilated, it would not spring to life again, unlike what would happen to their brother and sisters in Judah, the southern kingdom. Such was the price for the wickedness displayed by God’s people in the north and Bethel which is specifically mentioned here.

There is little doubt that God wants for His people to place their trust in Him and Him alone. And if you looked at currency in the United States of America, you will find this saying upon it, a saying that represents the official motto of the country:

“In God We Trust”

But ask yourself this:

How often do we find the leadership in the United States of America invoking trust in the Lord God Almighty as the nation’s great Protector and Provider?

It’s sad to say but I can honestly say I can’t remember hearing anyone in national prominence making the statement. In fact, if you follow what’s going on in states regarding the matter of this motto, you will find more states trying to remove it or eradicate it altogether than you will find promoting it.

This is because our nation has become too sinfully self-reliant like the Old Testament Israelites of the northern kingdom. We place our trust in our own ability to do things and rarely if ever mention God as the One who can shield and defend us.

If God was so angry at the Israelites for this kind of attitude towards Him, I wonder how He feels about our nation today?

The same applies for the way we are living our personal lives. It’s high time we realized that we don’t have the strength or power to persevere and endure hardships when they come our way. That only comes through God, the God we so often ignore or overlook.

I believe we would be well served to get our act together and resurrect our faith and trust in God as the first option when times of trouble come, whether looking at it nationally or personally. For if we don’t, choosing self-reliance instead, then we will leave God no other choice than to bring a judgment that will show us just how inadequate we are to take care of ourselves.

He did it before and He can and will do it again.

Amen

In Christ,

Mark
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