This past week, citizens of the United States of America celebrated the 247th year of independence from England that commenced on July 4, 1776. Many other countries around the world celebrate a day of independence from a past governing authority while some countries or nationalities continue to anticipate a future day of independence from another nation currently governing them.
While national independence has worked, some ponder if personal independence could ever occur. As logic and the real world jolt our minds, we realize we are not self-sufficient entities. In fact, all human beings living on this Earth depend on certain items to live, such as air, food, water, shelter, and a functioning physical body. God is the creator of all the necessities required for human existence. As followers of Christ, we should believe and appreciate God’s Word in the Bible about our lives. Furthermore, we should comprehend as individuals that we could not live independent of God, our Creator. To suppose we could exist independently of God demonstrates delusion and extreme foolishness. The Old and New Testament Scriptures proclaim human dependence on God. This truth should be viewed as a blessing not a burden. Let’s look at a few Bible verses providing tangible insights on how we should dependently and freely trust in the God of the Bible.
The Bible maintains it is foolish to depend on human abilities, while it is a blessing to trust in the LORD.
5 Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 “For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5-7).
The Bible maintains it is wise to depend on and trust in God:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him (Lamentations 3:22-25).
25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:25-33).
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6).
Depending and trusting in God begins by believing His promises in the Bible. Let’s start each day acknowledging our dependence on the LORD for our very existence, and being willing to serve Him as long as we shall live.
The Bible verses above are taken from The New American Standard Bible, 1995.
Pastor Cecil Price
July 9, 2023