January 15 - Trusting Self Is Never Justified

“He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4).

Christians are never justified in trusting solely in themselves to meet their basic needs. No matter how worried we might become, if we turn to God in faith and obedience, He will meet all our essential needs in His own way, according to His sovereign schedule. Implicit in this understanding is that God will meet every need, both physical and spiritual, as Paul promises us, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19; cf. Matt. 6:8, 33).

It is always best to follow Jesus’ example, obeying God and trusting wholeheartedly in His gracious provision, than to impulsively and selfishly attempt to meet our own needs in ways that could disobey or compromise God’s Word.

To trust first of all in ourselves to meet our needs—circumventing or modifying God’s will in the process—not only demonstrates a lack of faith but rests on the false assumption that our earthly well-being is our most crucial need. Jesus contradicts such thinking, which is so natural to fallen humanity, both to unbelievers as well as believers who slip into carnal mind-sets. Therefore our Lord quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, “‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” The all-sufficient and sustaining power of God is the only true source that meets our every need.

Where does your dependence lie? Are you trusting in your paycheck? Your insurance policies? Your physical strength and smarts? Or have you finally realized that everything hinges on God, His Word, and His sovereign plan for your life? Find your sense of security in Him alone.

I am thinking one might not quite draw from this the right lesson, and I don't think it was quite the whole point of Mathew 4:4. Jesus was responding to Satan who had suggested that He use supernatural power to turn stone into bread (Mathew 4:3).

And the next thing Satan tempted Jesus with was again to use His supernatural power to show off by throwing himself from a great height forcing His Father to save Him by Supernatural means.

In both instances Jesus resisted the temptation to rely on Supernatural power that he had at His disposal. In both cases it is clearly implied it would have been a sin for Him to do so.

As far as relying on one's self, I think the healthy Christian attitude is to do what we can for ourselves and for others with the talents that God has given us. Not that we should take pride in the fact that we have such talents...because of course whatever talent we have comes from God. Rather relying on our talent and regular means should be a form of worship to God in our hearts. The lesson I draw from Mathew 4:1-11 is that what we should NOT do is be expect God to be a kind of supernatural servant doing things that we could do for ourselves for us. While certainly petitionary prayer and asking God for help, even supernatural help when necessary is a good thing, I think we need to be careful in thinking that the sign of being a Christian is God leading us by the nose so we can be lazy in the works and responsibilities He has given us to do. Pursuing first the Kingdom of God means us making some effort. Living not on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God is being obedient to His will. Being moral, and loving etc. Not being a helpless waif. Humility means submitting to His higher purpose, not having an artificially deflated view of our own abilities. Rather really living by the words of God, I think requires more effort than any other form of life. And as Jesus warned us, let us count the cost.

Indeed…..

1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

And that, IMO, means doing it well, to the best of our abilities that God has granted us.

I was at Sainte Marie among the Iroquois many years ago with my kids and the guide there was teaching about their pottery and how when they made something, they were always satisfied with how it came out, even though they knew it wasn’t perfect.

Instead of complaining they accepted it, because, the reasoning was, only the Creator can make perfection and no human can. Therefore if you did it the best you could to the best of your ability, that was good enough however it turned out.

What a healthy attitude.

Something many Christians could do with some of.

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