God’s strength, my weakness
Adobe
The Christian life is strewn with paradoxes, as Scripture often appears to promote two contradictory positions at the same time.
These seeming incongruities have caused endless debates and disagreements in the church.
Does God choose us or do we choose him?
When we are born again, are we still ruled by our old nature or are we made entirely new?
Are we active or passive participants in our sanctification?
The challenge in most cases is that Scripture can be used to argue both sides in these disputes. People often claim that they hold their view because they "believe the Bible."
The problem is that those favoring the opposing opinion likely also believe the Bible. They are merely focusing on different passages or interpretations.
One thing many people have struggled to understand is the role they play in their own Christian life. A popular bumper sticker reads, "Let go and let God." The implication is that our Christian life is entirely the result of God's work. Christ saves us, and He transforms us into His image. There is nothing we can do except abide in Him and let Him do His work.
I often encounter this argument when I post something on social media about making wise choices or trying to improve ourselves in some manner. Inevitably, a well-meaning reader will remind me that God does the work, not us. Or they will inform me that God already knows whether He intends for us to be spiritually mature, healthy, or fit, and He will achieve what He wills regardless of our effort. In fact, it insults God when we assume we play a role in our personal betterment.
The problem with this approach is that it ignores much of Scripture. You must read the Bible through a strong lens to ignore the many places where Scripture commands people to take action. We cannot become like Christ without the Holy Spirit's help, but it is equally true that the Holy Spirit will not make us like Jesus unless we cooperate with his work.
Some Christians who believe their efforts are inconsequential merely resign themselves to whatever God chooses to do in their life. If God intends to make them holy, then they will be holy, regardless of whether they commune with him and read their Bible. They will be holy even if they watch ungodly programming or pursue carnal pleasures. It's an easy way to abdicate any personal responsibility, but the apostle Paul would be appalled by that approach.
On the other side, some argue that everything hinges on our efforts. Benjamin Franklin is a poster child for this approach. He assumed he could become whatever he chose through his own strength. But of course, this belief ignores a broad swath of biblical teaching as well.
God expects us to make every effort to become godly and mature, with his help. For example, Romans 8:26 tells us that we do not know how to pray as we ought, but "…the Spirit helps us in our weakness . . ." Paul said in Ephesians 6:10 that we should be ". . . strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength." Paul doesn't say we need not concern ourselves with the battle, since God fights it for us anyway. Rather, he encouraged the Ephesians that God would strengthen them for the battle they must fight. This truth is evident throughout Scripture. God commands us to do difficult things, but He promises to help us by providing whatever wisdom, strength, and provision we require to succeed. God does not tell us to relax and let Him do all the work on our behalf.
The stance someone takes on this issue plays out in their life. Some people trust entirely in themselves. Those who are talented and driven can accomplish a great deal, but they inevitably reach the end of themselves and experience failure. Many religious leaders grow large crowds and build impressive facilities by leveraging their charisma and organizational skills. But then one day it comes out that they have been living immorally. People are shocked that someone who seemingly did so much for God's kingdom could commit such grievous sins. The truth is that much of what they achieved was accomplished in the flesh.
Others, though they have been a Christian for a long time, still exhibit un-Christlike behavior. People may wonder how someone who has been leading a Christian organization for so long has not experienced more growth. But they have been leaving all their transformation up to God, and He has apparently chosen to leave them as they are.
On one extreme, people trust in their own power to do what only God can do. On the other end of the spectrum, people don't attempt anything at all because they assume change comes only at God's initiative.
I am privileged to meet Christian leaders around the world. I've been blessed to see those whom God is using mightily. They tend to be those leaders who do their part and then trust God to do His. It's not either or.
My father trusted God as much as anyone I knew. He also got up at 4 a.m. to commune with God, and he worked long hours in the Lord's service. No one trusted God more, and no one worked harder.
As a rule, I am suspicious of any extreme view of the Christian life. Most aspects of the Christian life work in harmony. It is never "all God" or "all people."
If God wanted to make it all about Him and His work, He could. But God, in His infinite wisdom, chooses to accomplish His work through leaders. He could have delivered the Israelites from Egypt by using a death angel, but He commissioned Moses and Aaron. God could have delivered the Israelites from the Midianites with a word. Instead, He assigned the task to Gideon. In both cases, God worked powerfully. But people also played a role. Human involvement doesn't diminish God's sovereignty in any way. It is simply the method God chooses to use on earth.
So we are left with two important questions for our life and leadership. First, am I doing everything God would have me do in my service to Him? Could I be more disciplined, organized, courageous, and eloquent? Second, am I trusting God for the things only He can do? What part of my life and work can be explained only by the powerful working of God?
I have found that when I do all I can and then trust God for all He promises, the results are amazing.
 | Richard Blackaby is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Georgia. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs and business leaders. He has written or co-authored 33 books . This article was first published on RichardBlackaby.com. Used with permission from Blackaby Ministries International. Learn More » |
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