Q3. God's Enabling

[Pastor Ralph]

Q3. (Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 4:7) What happens in our heart when we attribute success to our own strength and abilities? How does a realization that everything we have is a gift affect our ability to humble ourselves?

[Elle Jee]

 When I was younger, I used to think about the reply “All glory be to God” from someone I complimented. As I grew closer to God and his word, I understood. I “get” this lesson. It’s a powerful one. Being grateful to God for all blessings and all pains (also blessings. Ex. James 1:2-4) is another way I work on humility.

[Commissioned]

Q3. (Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 4:7) What happens in our heart when we attribute success to our own strength and abilities? How does a realization that everything we have is a gift affect our ability to humble ourselves?

In light of Deuteronomy 8:17-18 and 1 Corinthians 4:7, when we take pride in our success and attribute it to our own strength or abilities, we act out of pride, failing to acknowledge that it is God who provides us the strength and capacity to create wealth. By relying on ourselves, we neglect the reality that we are dependent on God for all that we achieve. This kind of pride blinds us to the truth that everything we possess, including our talents, opportunities, and resources, comes from God.

When we come to the understanding that all we have is a gift from God, it reshapes our attitude, making it easier to humble ourselves before Him. The Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthians echo this truth: "If you received everything you have, why boast as if you achieved it on your own?" Embracing this mindset of humility allows us to walk in gratitude, recognizing God's hand in every aspect of our lives. This perspective leads us away from self-glorification and toward a deeper dependence on God’s grace and provision.

 

[Bianca]

When we attribute success to our own strength and abilities it actually hardened our hearts. It can actually hardened our hearts from hearing God appropriately. We can confuse our own voice actually thinking it's God. We need to keep our hearts clear of thinking to highly of ourselves. 

 

When we recognize God as the source of our gifts, our money, talents then we realize we can't give ourselves the credit. That the higher power which is God is the one in control. We realize that someone else which is God did it. He gave the money to able to do things for ourselves and others. God gave us the talents to use for others to be a blessing. So it stops it right there with those facts in thinking that we did everything and we deserve things based on that. When in truth we didn't deserve the goodness of God everything is a gift in this life and the life to come.

 

 

[David Babcock]

My heart becomes inward focused when I believe my gifts and abilities come from me, not from God. I am the “king” who feels everything revolves around me. My entire self becomes centered on preservation of “the little “king”. My heart becomes blind, unable to see truth. 
when I realize all my gifts and abilities, wealth and status originate not from me but from an outward source, I  realize its not all about me.There is a force and a focus greater than me. This brings humility to the forefront.

[Brother Clifford wilson]

We of the faith will be humbled by our Lord and God If or when we fall off the Narrow path.  We are part of His Holy plan.  As I look at God at work in my life, I count the times that I was dis-obedient in my walk.  I can recall this because of his grace and mercy led me to repentance.  God wants us to always remember his Love and blessings.  I remember when he restored me and strengthened my walk, why, because he is life changing.  God wants us to delight in him, as he works in our life.  Delight in his gifts and share them, do not forget him.

[Brother Clifford wilson]

On 9/21/2024 at 5:24 PM, Bianca said:

When we attribute success to our own strength and abilities it actually hardened our hearts. It can actually hardened our hearts from hearing God appropriately. We can confuse our own voice actually thinking it's God. We need to keep our hearts clear of thinking to highly of ourselves. 

 

When we recognize God as the source of our gifts, our money, talents then we realize we can't give ourselves the credit. That the higher power which is God is the one in control. We realize that someone else which is God did it. He gave the money to able to do things for ourselves and others. God gave us the talents to use for others to be a blessing. So it stops it right there with those facts in thinking that we did everything and we deserve things based on that. When in truth we didn't deserve the goodness of God everything is a gift in this life and the life to come.

 

 

 

[Brother Clifford wilson]

Oh God! Restore me to a heart of flesh that you can use me.  This was my prayer when I found strength in myself and lived unthankful.  I found strength and love in the Holy Spirit humbled me from that worldly self.  Sets us apart from worldly obsessions.

[SuzanneK]

When we attribute success to our own “wonderfulness” a process begins – – a moving away from God begins. It can happen so quickly and so silently as to not be comprehended until the road back to Him becomes very arduous – – heartbreaking at times. This, for me, is nothing to play around with. I must give thanks to my God in everything great or small. I must give Him every drop of Glory all along the way because, in reality, it all belongs to Him.  I need Him close to me.  He is my all in all.  

Edited September 24 by SuzanneK
To add an important “why” I said what I said.

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q3. (Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 4:7)

What happens in our heart when we attribute success to our own strength and abilities?

Getting full of pride and forgetting our GOD's gifts to us.

How does a realization that everything we have is a gift affect our ability to humble ourselves?

By remembering that the LORD your GOD, give us strength and the ability to produce wealth. So everything we have has been given to us by God and belongs to GOD.

[Kak]

Q3. When we attribute our success and well being to our own efforts, we are forgetting that unless God had given us gifts to enable us to succeed we would not have had success. When we forget God, and all that He has done for us , we become full of pride. We become haughty, and proud and slip even further away from God. 
When we realise that without God we would have nothing, not even the ability to breathe or to take a step, we then realised that we are totally dependent on God and we have nothing we can offer except humble awe and adoration. 

[Jewells]

Q3. (Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 4:7) What happens in our heart when we attribute success to our own strength and abilities? How does a realization that everything we have is a gift affect our ability to humble ourselves?

When we attribute success to our own strength, abilities, efforts, the focus is ourselves, and usually it is an attitude we arrive at by comparing ourselves to what is around us.  We are taller, smarter, prettier, advanced, and usually forgetting God gave us the gifts to be developed,  and/or created the circumstances for them to be developed, or people to teach us, or a place to display them or to be used at all, and well as finances that were provided to advance in any area.  God puts us in the place to grow and develop.  God created all of it to be of service to everything else he wishes to develop and elevate and display as well for His Glory.  As we are freely receiving we are to freely give.  If we take credit for all of it we get pride.  We will miss the opportunity to bless others truly.  We will miss out on a heavenly reward because we haven't lived to God's glory but our own.

[Brenda Joy]

What happens in our heart when we attribute success to our own strength and abilities? How does a realization that everything we have is a gift affect our ability to humble ourselves?     When our heart becomes self-focused,  it becomes hard and cut off from God.  My successes and abilities make me blind to the One who blessed me with them, and I end up forgetting about God. Thus my heart is not surrendered to God.   Realizing everything is a gift, points me to the fact that I am nothing without Him.   If I'm yielded to the Lord I know, that I know, that He is the one who has blessed me and I can't help but praise Him.

[Zanele Tlhakanelo]

When we attribute success to our own strength and abilities we simply do not acknowledge God as the One who has given us the ability to acquire what we have. We think that whatever we have is our own doing and as such fail to honor and thank God forwhat He continually does in our lives. We deatch ourselves from understanding that all good, pleasing and perfect gifts come from the Lord. The achievements, the wealth and everything that we have are an indication that we have been in God's plan before we were even formed in our morhers' wombs. Hence Job 1 verse 21 says it all "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked will I depart." Therefore the strength and abilities are all the acts of God for His Love for us.

When we realize that everything we have is a gift from God helps us to be humble because we understand that God can take that anytime if we become too proud and start thinking of ourselves as high and mighty. I believe that it is better to humble yourself before God and men than for God to humble you. I always believe that even if you have assited people in whatever way, do not boast and go tell the world what you have done. The Word of God in Matthew 6 verse 3 says " Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."

[Frances Kay]

We become proud, forget about God and start judging others and putting them down. Pretty soon, we drive people away and are lonely.

When we realize all we have if gifted, we fell blessed and grateful. We do not have to hang on tightly to squeeze our abilities out of us; we can let them grow and develop.

[Mama Eve]

(Deut. 8:17-18:1)  (Cor. 4:7)

What happens in our heart when we attribute success to our own strength and abilities?

The heart can be deceitful above all things and beyond cure. (Jeremiah 17:9) And a heart lifted up people tend to become prideful. No one can ever achieve anything on their own. 

How does a realization that everything we have is a gift affect our ability to humble ourselves?

People often forget that whatever we have achieved is a gift from God. People become ungrateful and selfish because the more they have the more they want. When people understand that what we have is from God people will be grateful and humble themselves before God giving him thanks for everything he has done for them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hanks]

Q3. (DEUTERONOMY 8:17-18; 1 CORINTHIANS 4:7) 
What happens in our heart when we attribute success to our own strength and abilities? How does a realization that everything we have is a gift affect our ability to humble ourselves? 
The moment we start attributing our success to something other than God there is the danger of self-glorying pride taking over. We forget that the true cause of our success is the strength and ability God has graciously given us. Everything we have has come from God, so there is no reason for pride. It is all of God. This realisation that everything is a gift from God will change our attitude toward Him and toward life.  Not to acknowledge these gifts would be the height of ingratitude. Thanksgiving therefore will become an integral part of our daily life. We will become more positive, gracious, loving, and humble. 
 

[Janzie]

On 8/12/2024 at 8:31 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q3. (Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 4:7) What happens in our heart when we attribute success to our own strength and abilities? How does a realization that everything we have is a gift affect our ability to humble ourselves?

Our heart gets puffed up and we think that we have done it all ourselves.  Everything we have is a gift from God.

Knowing that we cannot do anything by ourselves humbles us.  We then know that we need God for everything, even the air we breathe.  Everyone is special and we all have a special gift given to us by God.

[Clelie]

When we consider ourself as a self made person pride creeps in and where is pride there is also downfall.

But when we realized  that we were born helpless and without God’s grace we can do nothing and that all of who we are or have is a gift from God , then we’ll have a modest  attitude that leads to humility towards God and people .

[faith & hope 2017]

When I think about this question, King Nebuchadnezzar comes to mind.   His heart was hardened and he forgot who made him the king of a vast empire.  As the story goes, he lost his sanity and lived like an animal.  We jeopardize our relationship with God and our hearts will harden as King Nebuchadnezzar.  The Lord giveth and He taketh away.  We hit rock bottom. 

Knowing that all we have is a blessed gift from God, we don't lose sight of His sovereignty.  We recognized Him for who He is and just hung up on what He can do for us.  For me, it's wanting to show Him how much I love Him daily and not taking Him for granted.  

[Lisa Wolf]

Q3. (Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 4:7) What happens in our heart when we attribute success to our own strength and abilities? How does a realization that everything we have is a gift affect our ability to humble ourselves? 

The section of scripture from Deuteronomy included here chapter 8:10-18 spells out clearly what will happen if we FORGET that it is the LORD who brought us out of a hard, evil place and say it is ourselves.  I suspect that is what happened with Gideon in Judges. At first, he was cowering from Israel's enemies (Judges 6:11), then the Lord brought victory with Gideon leading (Judges 7), finally Gideon says the Lord will rule over Israel (8:23), but Gideon takes plunder from all and creates an idol (8:24-27) and Israel heads back to disaster.  The Lord God gives us all good things.  We need to keep this in mind, so we do not become prideful, selfish, and self-focused. The realization that EVERYTHING we have is a gift reminds us that ALL belongs to Him; we are stewards. We praise Him for His generosity to us and we become eager to share the abundant blessings He has blessed us with.

[Krissi]

I have a son who is struggling to be “very successful,” in his words. He is a lapsed Christian entrepreneur who started a company about four years ago in a very politically hostile and increasingly regulated environment. He’s put hundred-plus hours into this company every week: he rarely sleeps, has no social life and is wearing down his young body because he feels he “owes” stability to the families of the employees he has hired.

When I suggested to him that he praise God for a recent success, he flipped around and glared at me saying, “I am exhausted. I’ve never worked so hard in my life. This company has been built with my sweat and tears …”.  This, of course, is true. But it’s also true that God has given him his cleverness and skill, although, as he pointed out, “… what I know I learned the hard way, through crawling out of mistakes.”

 I don’t want to push him further away from God by insisting that his own strength and abilities, labor and sacrifice, do not matter or did not contribute to what I hope will be his successful company for it is true that he has taken huge risks and sacrifices and has put in more hours than anyone I know. I do see how his extreme effort has created something from nothing, a new company. BUT, I also can see that behind his efforts were circumstances and abilities that were controlled and planned by God.

There must be an acknowledgement that God, who gives the abilities/circumstances that make us who we are, also expects us to use them, and that people like my son have developed those abilities/circumstances more than others. There must be an acknowledgement that God gives us chances and opportunities that we either seize or reject. There must be an acknowledgement that we contribute to our own success or failure, even though at times, success eludes us unfairly (though by God’s design) and failure also unfairly comes our way. Most of the time, however, there’s a correlation between labor and success. Success doesn’t just happen. It is “earned.”

We do things. Make things. Create things. We have agency, that is. We decide to sin or do good (or just sin because it’s our nature) – conversely, in the context of work, we decide how hard we’ll work and in some manner determine our own success or failure. Yes, God gave us the initial abilities and has subtly controlled our circumstances and the things that have happened to us – this is obvious. But aren’t we somehow responsible for what we make of these opportunities He has given us, and if responsible, can’t we take pride – such a naughty word! – in what we’ve built, created or accomplished?

I think what Pastor Ralph is getting at is that the original “gift” isn’t earned, that God puts us into settings in which He can use us which allows the potential development of that gift. I also believe God controls (not allows) circumstances that harm us to get us to wherever we should be in His plan. I can see that He has a detailed plan for our life without succumbing to fatalism or determinism, and that His plan isn’t contingent on our capitulation to it. That’s the rub: we have to capitulate (submit) to the direction He is leading us at the same time that we labor and self-sacrifice for our own vision of success. His direction and our own internal visions have to dovetail. That’s ultimate success, though it may not look like success to us or the world.

Does God destine every Christian for success if we capitulated or submitted our dreams to His (mostly unknown) plans?  No. Some people work hard and fail anyway because failure is part of His plan. Some people are martyred because death was His will. Some people die in extreme poverty because He put them in that position, that somehow, in His overall plan, this was the role they were to play.

So, yes, everything is a gift and everything is controlled and monitored by God, but we do have the agency and self-control to make the best of our “fate” because God doesn’t give success or wealth without our labor, and somehow we have to feel our labor “counts” and take pride in it without becoming pride-filled wrongly.

(As an aside, my son is ashamed of me because I haven't made my mark on the world as he thinks I should or could have. He attributes this to my own mistakes, though I labor diligently. It is true -- I am not successful. But I am closer to God because of these failures and horrible circumstances and though failure has hurt tremendously, I can praise Him while I hope -- and labor -- for a different outcome in life.)