Self-Sufficiency; Not All It Seems

Romans 1:16-17

            Paul is quoting Habakkuk (2:4), who summed up the godly life in just a very few words, “The just shall live by faith.”  This world is a frightening place; it is filled with hunger, pain, disease, and death.  Most of the technological advances made in the last 100 years were motivated by man’s fears and by his desire for easing the burdens of living.  We have worked very hard to become self-sufficient.

            We often judge others and ourselves by the level of self-sufficiency we are able to achieve.  I well remember a man from our community named Gerald.  Gerald was a brick mason and a close friend of my dad.  More importantly, Gerald Newton was lost in his sins.  My entire family must have witnessed to him on one occasion or another, but he consistently refused to humble himself and ask Jesus into his heart.  Gerald believed a man was less than a man if he asked anyone for help.  Everything in his nature resisted calling out to Jesus for salvation.  Gerald eventually accepted Jesus just before his death.  His conversion came as a result of his nearly dying with a heart attack.

Why with all our comforts and conveniences are so few people truly happy?  I think it has something to do with the way we are made.  Human beings just don’t find happiness in the possessing of things or in the fulfillment of selfish desires.  We were created for relationship with God and that alone can make us truly happy.  In fact, it occurs to me, that those not desiring God’s help are the least content among us.  It may sound strange to say, but some of the happiest times in my life were those when I felt under the most stress.  It was during those times that my family and I have most depended upon God to meet our needs. 

*Habakkuk’s words are just as true today as when they were written nearly 3,000 years ago.  /Only within the confines of God’s care may we truly enjoy the blessing of Divine provision!

 *I.                   What Provisions Do We Enjoy?

A.    God builds a hedge around us and intervenes in our behalf

1.      He will not leave us at the world’s mercy

2.      Blessing is never tied to ease/comfort, freedom from trials, or the absence of temptation

3.      Even Jesus learned obedience through suffering

4.      Faith is built in small increments of experience.  God allows testing and rewards faithfulness!

5.      True blessedness is reserved for those bold in their faith

B.     Provisions are not always what we expect

1.      Unlike ourselves, God completely understands our situation

2.      He knows that quick and easy solutions rarely produce the best results

*3.      That is why we are to, “Give thanks in all things….”

C.    Divine Provision is beyond human understanding and control

1.      God provides what we cannot

2.      He provides perfectly - exactly what we need

*II.                How Do We Achieve Blessedness?

A.    Relationship with Jesus

B.     An active and dedicated life

1.      Acknowledging one’s limits

2.      Attitude reflected in behavior

C.    Giving God His rightful place

The path to happiness is the narrow way!