| James
R. Davis
In the last decade we have had an insatiable appetite
that has driven us in seeking affirmation of SELF. Today "self" is being
used as the criterion for evaluating life. Out modern world encourages
us to look inward to gather strength for the challenges and opportunities
of each day. We should tell ourselves: "You're okay. You can make it. Nothing
is too great for you to conquer if you believe in yourself." "Whatever
the mind can conceive and believe man can achieve."
In this fetish process certain words have subtly
crept into our vocabulary. Maybe you have noticed the words too: Self-acceptance.
Self-actualization. Self-confidence. Self-consciousness. Self-control.
Self-deliverance. Self-discipline. Self-enlightenment. Self-evaluation.
Self-fulfillment. Self-gratification. Self-help. Self-image. Self-empowerment.
Self-knowledge. Self-pity. Self-reliance. Self-talk.
We are hoping an understanding of self will give
us an explicit vantage point from which to view life and solve our problems.
It is as though Paul's words in Ephesians chapter three and verse nineteen
have been interpolated and rewritten to say, " . . . that you may be filled
with the fullness of self . . . " Paul actually says, " . . . that you
may be filled with the fullness of God . . . "
"Self" is at the heart of each word and the problem
of each heart. These "self" words are pointing the way to other "self"
words: Self-absorption. Self-centeredness. Self-deception. Is it any wonder
that individuals, marriages, organizations, churches and nations are experiencing
SELF-DESTRUCTION?
We must place our confidence in God. We must envision
self through the eyes of God. Each of the "self" words should be replaced
with "God." Notice what a different emphasis it would make in our world.
God's-acceptance vs. Self-aceptance. "To the praise
of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved"
(Ephesians 1:6).
God's-actualization vs. Self-actualization. "Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ . . . " (Philippians 1:6).
God-confidence vs. Self-confidence. "In whom we
have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him" (Ephesians
3:12).
God-consciousness vs. Self-consciousness. "For
this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering
wrongfully" (1 Peter 2:19).
God's-control vs. Self-control. "And every man
that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it
to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1 Cor 9:25). "For
though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The
weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary,
they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and
every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and
we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Cor 10:3-5).
God's-defense vs. Self-defense. "Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled,
and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the
power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time" (1 Peter 13-5).
God's-discipline vs. Self-discipline. "For whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son
is he whom the father chasteneth not" (Hebrews 12:6-7).
God's-empowerment vs. Self-empowerment. "That
I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of
his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death . . . " (Philippians
3:10).
God's-enlightenment vs. Self-enlightenment. "The
eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is
the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints . . ." (Ephesians 1:18).
God's-esteem vs. Self-esteem. "And hath raised
us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ .
. . " (Ephesians 2:6).
God's-evaluation vs. Self-evaluation. "But with
me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's
judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself;
yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord" (1 Corinthians
4:3,4).
God's-fullness vs. Self-fulfillment. "And to know
the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with
all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:19).
God's-gratification vs. Self-gratification. "That
we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ" (Ephesians
1:12). "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians
2:8,9).
God's-help vs. Self-help. "Let your conversation
be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for
he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).
"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip
for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for
the workman is worthy of his meat" (Matthew 10:9).
God's-image vs. Self-image. "So God created man
in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created
he them" (Genesis 1:27).
God's-knowledge vs. Self-knowledge. "That ye might
walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good
word, and increasing in the knowledge of God . . . " (Colossians 1:10).
God's-pity vs. Self-pity. "Behold, we count them
happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen
the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy"
(James 5:11).
God-talk vs. Self-talk. "If any man speak, let
him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as
of the ability which God giveth: That God in all things may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever"
(1 Peter 4:11).
Admittedly, to a myriad of people the "God" words
are a bit awkward. But notice the height, breath, depth, and the richness
that the word "God" adds to life as to the word "self." The immeasurable
dimension that "God" adds to life surpasses our comprehension (Ephesians
3:17-22).
Psychologists are encouraging us to get in touch
with our inner "self." Yet, it seems rather confusing to scrutinize "self"
in light of "self." There is a standard for measurement in all walks of
life. If each person determined the standard by which he/she measured self,
would it not be confusing? It s like measuring the accuracy of a broken
speedometer by the broken speedometer itself; it would justify its own
measurements. If everybody's speedometer out on the freeway was broken
what a confusing place it would be. It would be even more confusing when
we used someone else's speed to justify our own speed.
The apostle Paul wrote, " . . . but they measuring
themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are
not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12). The Creator gave man the Bible as the
only means capable of measuring self. Through its teaching "self" can step
out of the inner darkness into the light of God's presence.
In this age of God-denial the center of our problem
is the self-centered heart. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).
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