“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” (Psalm 54:4 NIV)
From the beginning, it has been the human tendency to look to ourselves or others to sustain us in our lives. Adam and Eve had a personal relationship with God, but cast that aside when the opportunity came along to rely on themselves. King Saul was personally chosen by the Lord to lead Israel; however, it wasn’t long before Saul began trusting in himself and his authority instead of the Lord.
We, too, struggle, as did these ancients, with looking to ourselves and others to sustain us. We have been told throughout our lives that we can do anything we set our minds to, that nothing is impossible for us. Movies and television tell us that love and romance can carry us through all life throws at us. Our culture tells us we are defined by our careers. All these messages communicate we can sustain our lives apart from God, that He is not needed.
But the Psalmist warns us (49:12-14) that those who trust in themselves in this life will perish in the next. While it may appear people do fine with this approach, he warns us there is a reckoning. It may be long in coming, but come it will.
God created us to be dependent on Him, and, indeed we are. Everything in our lives ultimately comes from Him. We can do nothing apart from Him. It is only His mercy that allows people to utterly reject Him and still be able to live.
Today, recognize the Lord is your help both in good times and in times of trouble. Acknowledge your dependence upon Him for everything. While the world may offer you another way to live your life, know it is only the Lord who can truly sustain it.
© Jim Musser 2013
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