The Matter of Self-Belief

My wife works at a Christian bookstore and occasionally brings home one for me to read.  I am convinced King Solomon's claim was spot on when he wrote, "Of making books there is no end." (Ecclesiastes 14:12)  It seems easier than ever to write a book too, as these days anyone can print their own book without an editor or publisher!

Anyway, I have started reading one of these new offerings on the subject of mentoring.  The premise of the book seems biblically sound, but there were times I felt good reasoning somehow led to incorrect conclusions.  My mind followed the track of logic until the final word of a paragraph!  Here is an example of what I mean:

Every man is living out "The Story of Me."  And I have yet to meet a man who wouldn't love to be the hero in that story--if only he knew how to do it.  But here's the catch:  information alone can't turn him into a hero.  Nor can technique.  Nor can a strategic plan or a set of goals.  Certainly no app can do it, either.  Something has to take place inside the man--inside his heart and mind--that transforms him into acting as a hero would act.  It's ultimately a matter of believing in himself.  (bold emphasis mine, quoting Bill Hendricks in Men of Influence, pages 56-57)

It's certainly debatable what motivates "heroes" to do admirable acts which justify the label, and it is ironic some of the most heroic men and women would humbly declare they have done nothing to deserve such praise:  they simply did what others would have done in the situation.  It is true there are heroes in history who did not profess faith in God, but was it self-belief which saved the day?  To say the necessary transformation inside a heart and mind is a result of "believing in himself" is not the conclusion I expected.  Since no man has the capacity to create himself or transform his heart and mind, it is only faith in God which can bring about this required miracle.

But then I started thinking:  what is the proper role of self-confidence in Christianity?  Does it have a place, what Hendricks calls "believing in himself?"  I would say biblically it has no place whatsoever, but in reality self-confidence can creep in.  The church in Galatia is a good example of this dynamic:  they started their journey of faith well by trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, but then tried to progress through the efforts of the flesh.  I do not believe Jesus was self-confident, but He knew who He was in relation to His Father in heaven.  Self-confidence is always a snare because it rests in self and pride.  We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus and grow as we humble ourselves and obey Him--not because having a relationship with God gives us self-confidence.

Psalm 118:8 says, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  We do not always chose the best option but tend towards what is natural, to place our confidence in other people or ourselves.  But Jesus did not place His confidence in men because He knew what was in them.  Our boldness, strength, and success does not come from believing in ourselves but in the revelation of our God "...according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²  in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him." (Ephesians 3:11-12)  At the same time it is good for us to examine ourselves:  is it self-confidence or faith in Christ which moves me to serve God and others?  Am I bold because I am confident in myself or in humility before God?  Self-belief is misguided, but faith in Christ places our confidence in Him.

The Gift of Longing

"The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing."

C.S. Lewis (from "The Weight of Glory")

There is longing in every human heart because God created us needy.  We are carried in the womb for 9 months and emerge needing to be washed, fed, and carried.  Young children are completely dependent on their parents for love, provision, protection, nourishment, and training.  Unknown to little ones (and many older, independent folks too) is we have spiritual needs which outweigh the physical ones which are signaled by our bodies like hunger, thirst, and fatigue:  the need for forgiveness and redemption by God because we are sinners.

C.S. Lewis touched on a unique aspect of the human condition:  an appreciation of the arts, of music, pageantry, and beauty.  Our taste in clothing styles, music and cuisine differs, but the appreciation of skills and creativity beyond our own captivates and enraptures.  We long for love and acceptance, to be appreciated, to accomplish something significant and worthwhile.  This longing may be numbed or go dormant by cynicism or perceived failures, but the desire remains.  Have you ever known this longing, a dream that is felt more fully when awake than asleep?  Whether this longing burns bright or has died down to embers, it is a need only fully satisfied in God.

Isn't there a longing in everyone to be wanted, even to be needed?  We all want to be chosen, acknowledged as belonging, valued for who we are--though flawed.  The great God who created mankind has come to us in the person of Jesus Christ and called us all to Himself.  The beauty of His invitation to know and live with Him forever is not on the basis we are numbered among a select few but His awesome greatness and love for all.  The fabled courage of the knight risking life and limb against a fire-breathing dragon to save a princess only hints at the longing we have to be so courageous ourselves and is put to shame by the love demonstrated by God for us.  We want to be the brave knight but we are better cast as a vain and unfaithful damsel who grows to love her own reflection over all else.  While we were yet sinners Jesus Christ died for us so we could be saved!  All the songs and poetry of the world together cannot outshine this truth which eternally satisfies our deepest longings.

Worship the LORD in the beauty of His holiness!  Even now He is preparing room in His kingdom for all who return His love with trust.

Sought Out by God

I enjoy metal detecting as a hobby.  A few years back I bought a quality detector which has the ability to "discriminate" between various metals on a scale from 1 to 99.  The readings correlate with a change in tone which helps a detectorist (also called a fossicker in AUS) to choose quality targets.  I don't want to spend a lot of time digging up bits of foil or rusty nails when I could be digging coins.  Even with discrimination the depth and size of the object can give a signal that sounds better than reality.  My detector has the ability to completely silence a custom range to prevent digging up scrap iron or tiny bits of foil which saves a lot of time.

While I was digging through sand today I considered how Jesus had the power to discriminate, to know the hearts and minds of people without them uttering a word.  He could have gone only to the people who would be open to discussion or willing to believe, but He didn't.  Jesus actually did the opposite, going specifically to sinners who had need for repentance.  He ate with tax collectors and sinners, people the Jewish religious leaders avoided like lepers to avoid any uncleanness.  When Jesus went to a feast given in His honour, Luke 5:30-31 says, "And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" ³¹ Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick."  Jesus sought out the people others had written off as unclean and sinning because they had need to repent of sin and by grace through faith in Jesus receive forgiveness and salvation.

Isn't God awesome and gracious to seek out people whose lives resembled a burnt-out rusted heap in a junkyard?  Other people may see us as a waste of space or a liability but God sees an opportunity to bestow His love and salvation.  It wasn't that He saw potential in a person to improve, like a collector seeks out rusted out cars to buy on the cheap to restore:  only Jesus has the potential in Himself to bring people dead in sins to life and can transform an eternal soul to have a relationship with Him never before realised.  God has sought out us sinners the world could not help, comfort, or save and has become our living Hope through the Gospel.  God loves people who have been created in His image despite our sins, and He loves those who choose to love Him because He is worthy.  This love, forgiveness, and redemption we could never hope to earn but we gratefully receive by His grace.

The Jehoram Lesson

The life of Jehoram in scripture is a most cautionary tale.  He was made king following the passing of Jehoshaphat, a king who was godly and loved by the people.  Jehoram was given the throne by birthright and his base character was quickly exposed when he killed his brothers and followed the ways of the idolatrous king of Israel.  We imagine a person will "rise to the occasion" when given a position of power but the opposite is true:  they can use their power to do more evil than ever.

With resources and a position which could have been employed to do great good for God's glory, Jehoram led the nation astray.  After years of idolatry, cruelty, and wickedness, God struck Jehoram with an incurable illness.  2 Chronicles 21:20 tragically relates, "He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one's sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."  Did you see that?  Jehoram, "to no one's sorrow, departed."  What a legacy to have attached to the opportunity he had to excel as a honourable man, son, brother, dad, husband, or king.  He was offered the opportunity to receive the blessings of God and be a blessing but became a curse and byword.  He was not missed.

Jehoram was buried in the city of David because of his relation to King David, but he was not afforded the honour of being buried with the kings.  He did not live up to the honour and responsibilities of his station before God or man and thus was shamed even after a painful and prolonged illness which led to death.  He did not have the pity of even his immediate family, for to no one's sorrow he departed.  Do you know what is more profitable and useful than being mourned after your passing?  To use the days God has given you on earth to love one another as Jesus loves you.  Even the kings and leaders the people mourned greatly over were not present to receive the accolades and kind words spoken about them.  Better to honour God in life in all dealings with men because He is the One who supplies eternal rewards and honour by His grace.

If Jehoram had not been king, his corpse would have been viewed as no better than unclean refuse by his subjects.  Christians in this life may be despised for holding fast to their integrity and faith in God, but such are precious in the Father's sight.  Psalm 116:12-16 speaks of our motivation to live as ones loved and redeemed by God--not to earn His love:  "What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? ¹³ I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. ¹⁴ I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people. ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. ¹⁶ O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds."  We deserve worse than Jehoram for our sin, but praise God He has offered us the cup of salvation, inclined His ear, and loosened our bonds because we are precious in His sight.