Please don’t fall into this trap

An article by Ola Aroyehun    1 Comment

Sometimes I write to encourage you, share a revelation I
have received from God, share experiences I am going through and sometimes I
share a Thus-saith-the-Lord word’. In other words, please pay attention. Today’s
post falls into the latter category.

So going straight into the message, most of I you have
probably heard words and statements such as:

• You can do anything you set your heart on doing
• With hard work and determination, you can
  achieve whatever you set your mind to
• Nothing is impossible when you work hard
• The sky is the limit
• When there’s a will, there’s a win
• Work hard and you will be successful
• Believe in your dreams and you will make it

I totally agree with the sentiment of these statements. I
might even have used some of these phrases in my writings. Whilst these
statements are true, they must be treated with caution. However, it has one
major flaw with it – it is self-centred. At its core is a belief in self rather
than a belief in God. Unfortunately, many believers have fallen into this trap or
thought process. For believers, life is Christ centred and not self-centred.
The scriptures are not against hard work. Paul, in referring to work uses words
such as labour, toil, endurance etc. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).

This does not mean that we don’t aim to be the best and aim
for the sky (or the moon, since footsteps are now known to be there) but it is
to ACTIVELY ACKNOWLEDGE that all of this is only possible through Christ

Acts 17:28 makes it clear that it is in Him that we live and
move and have our being. Therefore any success in life should be attributed to
Christ who is ‘the root – as all good things come from Him ’.

The book of Philippians is a good book that focus our minds
back to Christ in us. It is one of those books that define the true source of
success.

In Philippians 2:12, Paul mentions that it is God who began
a good work in us whilst Philippians 2:13 state that God is working in us both
to will and for His good purpose. Then Philippians 4:13 states that I can do
all things through Christ that strengthens me’. Christ is the source of our
success and not the belief in self that we will attain whatever we want.

The danger with this type of thinking is that Christ is no
longer enthroned in our thoughts and thoughts give birth to action. Then if we
are not careful, we begin to be self-reliant rather than God-reliant. Remember
man’s first sin.

Let’s be aware of the subtlety of these ways of thinking for
there is nothing a man has that has not been given to him by God. Let’s
consciously remember when we are confronted with these words that all of this
is only possible in Christ,

Hope you have enjoyed this week’s post, so until I appear
again in your inbox with more insight from the scriptures, stay blessed.

Ola