Sermon: The Illusion of Self-Sufficiency and the Grace of God
Text: "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." – Psalm 24:1
Introduction:
Beloved, today we address a heart that believes in self-sufficiency, a soul that declares, "Everything I have is by my own hands. What has God done for me?" This is a sentiment that echoes the pride of human achievement, a mindset that places self at the center of the universe. But let us pause and reflect: Is this truly the case? Is everything we have truly of our own making? Or is there a greater hand at work, a divine providence that we often overlook?
1. The Illusion of Self-Sufficiency:
The belief that all we have is because of our own strength and power is a seductive illusion. It is easy to look at our accomplishments, our wealth, our success, and say, "I did this. My hands built this. My mind conceived it. My strength made it possible." But let us ask ourselves: Who gave you those hands? Who gave you that mind? Who gave you the breath in your lungs, the strength in your body, and the opportunities that you seized?
The Bible reminds us in James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Every talent, every opportunity, every breath is a gift from God. Even the ability to work, to think, to create—these are not of our own making. They are gifts from the Creator.
2. The Danger of Pride:
Pride is a dangerous thing. It blinds us to the truth. It makes us forget our dependence on God. In Proverbs 16:18, we are warned, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." When we say, "I don’t need God. I have done this all by myself," we are walking on shaky ground. We are forgetting that without God, we are nothing.
Consider the words of Jesus in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Without God, we can do nothing. Our strength, our power, our ability to accumulate wealth—all of it comes from Him.
3. The Grace of God:
Let us not forget the grace of God. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. It is the love and mercy that He gives us, not because we have earned it, but because He is good. Even when we turn away from Him, He continues to bless us. He gives us life, health, and opportunities. He allows us to work, to create, to build. But these are not signs of our independence from Him; they are signs of His grace.
In Deuteronomy 8:17-18, we are reminded, "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth." God is the source of all our blessings. He is the one who gives us the ability to succeed.
4. The Call to Humility:
Beloved, let us humble ourselves before God. Let us acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from Him. Let us not be like the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21, who stored up wealth for himself but was not rich toward God. Instead, let us be grateful for what we have, and let us use it to glorify God and to bless others.
In 1 Corinthians 4:7, Paul asks, "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" Let us not boast in our own strength, but let us give thanks to God, who is the source of all good things.
Conclusion:
To the one who says, "What has God done for me? Everything I have is by my own hands," I say this: Look again. Look at the hands that built your wealth—who gave you those hands? Look at the mind that conceived your plans—who gave you that mind? Look at the breath in your lungs, the strength in your body, the opportunities that came your way—who gave you all of these?
God has done more for you than you can ever imagine. He has given you life, strength, and the ability to succeed. But more than that, He has given you His love, His grace, and the promise of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Let’s take a deeper look at what God has done for the person who feels that everything they have is solely the result of their own efforts. While it may seem like their achievements are self-made, the truth is that God’s hand is present in every aspect of their life, often in ways they may not recognize or acknowledge. Here’s a breakdown of what God has done for them:
1. The Gift of Life
What God Has Done: God created them. He formed them in their mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-14). He gave them breath, a beating heart, and a functioning body. Without God, they would not exist.
What This Means: Every moment of life, every breath they take, is a gift from God. Their very existence is not their own doing but a result of God’s creative power.
2. The Ability to Work and Think
What God Has Done: God gave them a mind to think, reason, and create. He gave them hands to work, skills to develop, and the ability to learn and grow. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us, “But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”
What This Means: Their intelligence, talents, and abilities are not self-created. These are gifts from God, entrusted to them to steward and use wisely.
3. Opportunities and Favor
What God Has Done: God has orchestrated opportunities in their life—whether it was a job, a chance encounter, or a door that opened at the right time. Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
What This Means: Even the opportunities they seized were made possible by God’s providence. He placed them in the right place at the right time, even if they didn’t recognize it as His doing.
4. Provision and Sustenance
What God Has Done: God has provided for their needs—food, shelter, clothing, and resources. Matthew 6:26 reminds us, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
What This Means: Even the basic necessities of life are not guaranteed by human effort alone. God sustains them daily, often in ways they take for granted.
5. Protection and Safety
What God Has Done: God has protected them from harm, illness, and danger. Psalm 91:11 says, “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
What This Means: There are countless unseen dangers and challenges they have been spared from, not because of their own vigilance, but because of God’s protection.
6. Health and Strength
What God Has Done: God has given them health and strength to work, to achieve, and to enjoy life. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, gifted to us by God.
What This Means: Their ability to work hard, to labor, and to accumulate wealth is dependent on the health and strength God has provided. Without His sustaining power, they could do nothing.
7. The Gift of Relationships
What God Has Done: God has placed people in their life—family, friends, mentors, and even strangers—who have supported, encouraged, and helped them along the way. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
What This Means: No one succeeds entirely on their own. The relationships and support systems in their life are part of God’s provision.
8. The Gift of Creation
What God Has Done: God has given them a world filled with resources—land, water, air, and materials—that they use to build, create, and prosper. Genesis 1:28 says, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.’”
What This Means: The raw materials they use to create wealth and build their life are part of God’s creation, entrusted to humanity to steward.
9. The Gift of Free Will
What God Has Done: God has given them free will—the ability to make choices, to work hard, and to pursue their goals. Joshua 24:15 says, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
What This Means: While they have the freedom to choose their path, it is God who gives them the ability to make those choices and to act on them.
10. The Ultimate Gift: Salvation
What God Has Done: Even if they don’t acknowledge Him, God has offered them the greatest gift of all—salvation through Jesus Christ. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
What This Means: Beyond material wealth, God has given them the opportunity for eternal life, forgiveness, and a relationship with Him. This is a gift that no amount of human effort can achieve.
Conclusion:
God has done far more for this person than they may realize. From the breath in their lungs to the opportunities they’ve seized, every good thing in their life is ultimately a gift from God. James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”
The challenge is to shift their perspective—to move from a mindset of self-sufficiency to one of gratitude and dependence on God. When they recognize that everything they have is a gift from Him, they can begin to live with humility, gratitude, and a deeper sense of purpose.
Final Thought:
If they still ask, “What has God done for me?” the answer is simple: Everything. The real question is, “Will they acknowledge it?”
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, open the eyes of this person to see Your hand in their life. Help them to recognize that every good thing they have is a gift from You. Soften their heart to receive Your love and grace, and lead them to a place of gratitude and faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.