The Escape Of Self Sufficiency

The flight away from God and into self-sufficiency is as old as the human race. It finds expression today in the words Believe in yourself and in admonitions to self-confidence. But the Bible says, “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:3).

God did not intend that we should be self-sufficient. Life on the highest level is a life that leans on the everlasting arms. “In You, O Lord, I put my trust,” said David (Psalm 31:1). Many people boast of their own virtues. The Bible says that our good works are like filthy rags in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6). We cannot save ourselves. We cannot get ourselves to Heaven by our own good deeds. Only by the grace of God, through the finished work of Christ, will any person get to Heaven.

The Escape by Suicide
Some time ago the mayor of a small town near where I live committed suicide. None of his friends have an explanation except that for the last month he had been despondent and discouraged. He apparently decided to end it all and put a bullet through his head.

But we cannot end it all by committing suicide. You can destroy your body, but your soul will live on through all eternity. The Bible says, “Though they dig into hell, from there My hand shall take them; though they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down” (Amos 9:2).