Security, Guidance, Wisdom, Power
Where do we truly find the security, guidance, wisdom, and power we need for life — in the shifting resources of the world or in the sufficiency that comes from God?
“Our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).
There are a few things every human being has to have. The question is, where shall we look for these? If we deny there is a God, we’ll have to do the best we can to find these things within ourselves or in the secular world around us. However, even if we profess faith in God and acknowledge Him as the source of our “sufficiency,” it’s possible that we rely on the world just as much as anyone else.
For example, consider four of our most fundamental needs:
SECURITY. What is the source from which we derive our sense of safety, assurance, and confidence? How reliable is that source? Since the choice we make determines our sense of worth and personal identity, the choice is one of life’s most important forks in the road.
GUIDANCE. There is no person who doesn’t need enlightenment, guidance, and advice from time to time. In our overall direction in life, as well as our individual activities and decisions, we can’t steer our course without some set of standards and principles. Where do we get these? From God or from secular sources?
WISDOM. Principles are useless if they aren’t applied, and the skill needed to apply them is what we call “wisdom.” The wisdom revealed by God looks ridiculous from the world’s perspective, so which wisdom do we trust in making our real-world decisions?
POWER. Power is not merely the possession of the high and mighty; it is the capacity to fulfill the demands of our daily lives, no matter how simple they may be. But obviously, there are many kinds of power. When we need the strength to make our own choices and carry them out, what kind of power do we employ?
Who is the most exemplary Christian you know? If you consider that person’s life, you’ll probably see that they not only look to God for all of these things, but they balance the four of them in such a way that they work together synergistically. So, our first challenge is to honestly repent and quit looking to the world for our deepest needs, and then second, to start blending the four things we receive from God — security, guidance, wisdom, and power — into a harmonious whole. It’s a challenge, but what a happy one it is!
“When these four factors are present together, harmonized and enlivened by each other, they create the great force of a noble personality, a balanced character, a beautifully integrated individual” (Stephen R. Covey).
Gary Henry - WordPoints.com