Recently I wrote a blog entitled, “The Love of Money” which focused on how Satan can use the love of money to pull man away from the Lord. Another one of Satan’s tools is tricking man into thinking that he can do everything himself, and that he does not need the Lord. This attitude is especially prevalent in America where people are taught that they should be self-sufficient, only relying on themselves. Society teaches people that they have all the tools they need to do everything for themselves and that if they need help from anything or anybody they should have a feeling of shame. Sometimes people treat Christians as lesser individuals because they rely on a Higher Being and follow after Him.
In Proverbs 3:5-7 Solomon wrote: “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. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” I remember a few years ago when the “WWJD” bracelets were popular, there were also items that had “FROG” printed on them. “FROG” stood for “Fully Rely On God.” Christians must give their entire life to the Lord and fully rely on Him. They should be very careful of the way of thinking that says that man can do things for himself without the Lord.
In Genesis 16:1 through 16:16 the Bible speaks of the story of the birth of Ishmael to Abraham and Hagar. This story is an excellent example of not trusting in the Lord nor relying on Him. Abraham and Sarah were impatient concerning the promise of a son. They decided they would have a son through Hagar even though that was not in accordance with the Lord’s plan. (Read my blog over the births of Ishmael and Isaac.)
Man is not capable of creating his own right path to follow; rather, he needs the Lord to lead his life. Jeremiah 10:23 is very clear that people need the Lord to guide their lives: “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.”