One of the biggest issues we have as a humans and in our fallen state is the overwhelming desire to be self-reliant.  Self-reliance is pretty self explanatory. So many of us in this world look purely to ourselves and our abilities to make it through life.  We know we are gifted with abilities, and we face struggles in life we look to those abilities and our own wisdom and understanding of life to try make it through.  Often times this comes to the detriment of ourselves and those around us.  What is forgotten through it all is the source of everything.  Where do our abilities come from, what is it we are truly living and walking through life for, what is our true and real purpose?

Jesus came to offer something substantial that we had lost, life.  Where as “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).  Life was lost prior to this.  At the fall, Adam became complacent and passive.  He did not act in his role to stop sin from entering and thus the fall.  Life was lost.  Jesus came to restore that.  Something is needed from us though in order to have real life.  A desire to live in order to glorify God, turned away from our self, and seeking Him to restore and guide our hearts.

So many out there are busting their butts trying to make something of themselves.  The problem is that the motivation is jacked up.  In the end, what does any of that matter if their motivation is not lead by faith and a desire to draw near to God.  I’ve written about this before.  Our motives need to be tested.  If our motives do not come out of faith and a desire to glorify God, then what does it matter.  It will not bring you anything in the end.  Our motives are the key.  We are called to shed our selfish and self-reliant ways and rely solely on Him.  This is a very difficult thing to do for many of us.  I know it was difficult for me.  To put off the old man and and bring Christ to the forefront of my life.

This is all very simple here, though very hard for so many to do.  Shed your self-reliant ways.  Understand that Christ came to offer us life, but we cannot have a life, real life, unless we stop looking to ourselves and start turning to the real source of life.  God is the source of life.  Don’t look to the idols of this world and to your own wisdom of this world.  Seek the Father and seek to walk with Him in all things in life.  This is how you find your way to real life.  As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “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 your paths straight.”

Look at Jesus.  How did He live His life here on earth?  With total and complete reliance on the Father to guide Him.  He knew His purpose was to glorify Him in this life and He was going to follow the Father’s will all the way up to and including His own death.  Jesus is the model of what it is live and to live a life for God.  Like I said, He is the source of life, so let Him become your life.  Open your heart to Him and let Him guide your actions.  Let the motives for everything you do come from Him and Him alone.  In this way you can truly have life to the full.

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul? Matthew 16:26