Trusting God’s Word Over Our Understanding

Those of us who trust in the biblical Word of God recognize that our purpose and absolute value have been determined by our creator (Colossians 1:16; Psalm 8:5). However, there are others who endeavor to define and esteem themselves, in relationship to things of the world that God created. Hopefully, at some point in life, they may discover the problems and inadequacies of self-determination. Nevertheless, those of us who trust in the Lord’s determination have self-fulfillment (Proverbs 3:5-6).

God’s Determination of Our Purpose and Value

God created mankind a little lower than the angels and covered them with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5). Like angels, men and women were given the purpose and privilege of worshipping, fellowshipping with and obeying the God of creation  (Colossians 1:16; Revelation 7:11; Genesis 1:27; 3:8). 

The Lord purposed to reconcile mankind with God, knowing they would be separated from God by their disobedience. Because of his incomparable love for mankind, God planned to redeem men and women by the atoning blood of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (Genesis 3; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Timothy 1:9). Being reconciled and spiritually born-again by the blood of the Son of God makes us children of God (1 John 3:1). The Lord has made us “kings and priests unto our God” (Revelation 1:6). And God is preparing a place for all of us who follow the Lord to reign with him in heaven forever (John 14:3;  2 Timothy 2:12).

Problems of Self-Determination

There are countless things that people may use to define and distinguish themselves without achieving complete self-fulfillment. Following are a few prevalent things they use, but they may fail to recognize problems and inadequacies connect to them without trusting the whole Word of God (Luke 4:4).

DISTORTING GOD’S WORD MISLEADS

Distorting God’s Word in aspiring to be equal with God will, as Adam and Eve did when they were misled by the Satan, cause you to be separated from God (Genesis 3). In failing to consider the full Word  of God, Some people determine that since the Bible says “God created mankind in his own image” (Genesis 1:27), that makes mankind equal to God. However, for correct understanding, any scripture should be interpreted in line with other scriptures (Isaiah 28:9-10; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17). Other scriptures state that God made man a little lower than angels (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:6-7). And that angels and all mankind are commanded to worship God (Hebrews 1:5-8; Philippians 2:10-11; Revelation 7:11).

BIG MONEY HAS INADEQUACIES

Wealth may be used to do good; some people give of their wealthy to help the poor. Yet, they may falsely identify themselves  by wealth.They may foolishly pride themselves on having large amounts of money and possessions. And there are other people with comparatively less material assets, who tend to exhibit a lower sense of self-worth. In comparing themselves to the “Jones,”  who are doing well financially. Those who are less well-off could find themselves overly working to catch up to the “Jones.” They may subscribe to Forbes money magazine to learn how to get rich. Or they might gamble their life’s savings away trying to hit it big. They may incorrectly use money and possessions as their standard of self-esteem rather than the Word of God. 

Viewing  Wealth Through the Word of God: The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil; and craving for money, have caused people to wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10). Some people have been so concerned about wealth, that they have forgotten about the importance of their souls (Luke 18:18-30; Luke 12: 16-12; Mark 8:36). Jesus said, it is very hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:23). The Bible says, having a little financially with goodliness and contentment is “great gain” spiritually (1 Timothy 6:6).

HIGHER EDUCATION HAS DEFICIENCIES

Some people incorrectly use education as the standard of evaluating themselves. One would hardly deny the value of higher education. However, overvaluing education and knowledge can distort ones sense of their true worth. If education is used as the standard of ones worth, then the amount of education one has relative to others will determine ones sense of self-worth. Failing to use God’s absolute standard ofevaluating self can cause you to fail miserably in the long run.

Being awed by the gods of knowledge and education, like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle—Einstein and some of their followers, you may not notice that these gods of intellect draw many away from following the only true God. They overwhelm many with philosophical rhetoric and theoretical relativity. But they do not demonstrate the power nor wisdom of the Almighty God of the Bible and His adherents.

In the Scripture, Jesus Said: if I had not done among them things which no one else did, then they would have a reason not to believe (John 15:24). Jesus healed all kinds if sickness, raised people from the dead, and calmed raging storms— He demonstrated his knowledge of, and power over life and death and the physically universe (John 11:38-44; Matthew 8:23-27). They knew that Jesus did these things, and still chose not to believe that he was of God.  An unscholarly blind man whom Jesus healed, told men of learning who did not believe in Jesus, “If this man were not of God he could do nothing” (John 9:33).

Paul a Scholarly Disciple of Jesus Writes:When the Apostle Paul was evangelizing with the gospel of Jesus Christ in Athens, he noticed that the ancient Greeks, despite all of their wisdom of the world, were ignorant of the true God. He saw that one of their altars had an inscription which read: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD (Acts 17:21-23). Paul said he did not try to teach them about Jesus Christ, the true God, “with enticing words of man”s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1Corinthians 2:4). Paul understood that even “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom”— Since the world through its wisdom did not know God, it pleased God that through the preaching of Jesus Christ crucified, those who believe should be saved (1 Corinthian 1:21-25). Paul advises us to maintain the wisdom God has entrusted us with, but reject worldly “ideas of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20). 

POWER AND WORLDLY RECOGNITION CAN DECEIVE

God may allows positions of power and influence for our good (Romans 13:1). But one should not base their self-worth primarily on these positions.People often over esteem positions like those of presidents and CEO’s; and they frequently idolize those who have fame or worldly recognition.

A Biblical Example of a Person with Everything but without Self-Fulfillment:King Solomon had as much power, recognition, riches and knowledge as anyone of his time; but failed to find self-fulfillment them. King Solomon who had all these things of the world discovered they result in “vanity and vexation of spirit” and death. (Ecclesiastes 1:14; Proverb 2:16). He advises us to “trust in the Lord” for self-fulfillment (Proverbs 16:20).

SEEING OUR PURPOSE THOUGH GOD’S WORD GIVES US HIGHEST ESTEEM:

• We were created by the Lord for his purpose (Colossians 1:16)
• God created us a little lower than angels with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5).
• Greater are we who have the Spirit of God than those who have the spirit of the world (1 John 4:4).
• The most high and only true God honors us as his children now and forever, for believing in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, as the Word of God says (John 3:16; 1 John 3:1).