A wife shouted to her husband, “I am leaving! I don’t need you!” This statement has been uttered by many persons under a great variety of circumstances. It is a statement of self-sufficiency.
Man has always been the victim of his pride and selfishness. It goes back to Adam and Eve (Genesis 2-3). Pride was the problem of the nation of Edom (Obadiah 1:3). Pride is one of the major problems of our society. Our generation stresses self-sufficiency – do your own thing.
Pride knows no bounds. It exists in the midst of God’s people. The disciples of the Lord had this problem: “Who is the greatest?” It seeks to come into the lives of every person.
A church in the first century had the self-sufficiency (pride) problem. The church at Laodicea made Christ sick to His stomach (Revelation 3:15-16). The church had said, “. . . I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing . . . “Revelation 3:17). This congregation thought all was well with them – self-sufficient.
There are many today who have “need of nothing.” This is evidenced in many ways. Many Christians are living nominal Christian lives for the Lord. This is a false sense of self-sufficiency. It is deadly!
With all said thus far, we need to ask the question, “WHAT PRODUCES THIS ATTITUDE”? We have already stated the major cause – PRIDE! Pride within the heart is a sin (Proverbs 16:5; 21:4; Isaiah 2:12. “Pride is a vice, which pride itself inclines every man to find in others, and overlook in himself.” (Johnson)
A pseudo sense of security is where some make the mistake of trusting in “THINGS.” The rich fool and his barns are a good example (Luke 12:18). Some place themselves as the controller of “EVERYTHING.” This is basic humanism (Man is the ultimate authority). This attitude is destroying our society as man plays “god.” Some use it to cover their deep feelings of insecurity. Man is quick to put on a front to hide what is really inside. Deep inside, however, he knows that he has needs. While others are blind to their real needs and conditions. Jesus said to the church at Laodicea, “. . . you do not KNOW that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked’ (Revelation 3:17). How sad not to know your needs!
Many are afraid to say they have need. “It is not manly,” some say. “It is a sign of weakness,” others say. Some are afraid to admit their needs because of possible embarrassment (Pride!). “7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (1 Timothy 1:7). A few there are that find it almost impossible to be honest with themselves. These never really search their hearts. They are only fooling themselves.
Some who say they have no need: parents; the wealthy; leaders; the educated; the miserable and unhappy; the sick and broken hearted; the lost; and Christians!
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEEDS?
John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
