{"id":1432,"date":"2011-02-06T13:40:30","date_gmt":"2011-02-06T13:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2011\/02\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-avoiding-the-trap-of-self-reliance.html"},"modified":"2011-02-06T13:40:30","modified_gmt":"2011-02-06T13:40:30","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-avoiding-the-trap-of-self-reliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2011\/02\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-avoiding-the-trap-of-self-reliance.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Avoiding the Trap of Self-Reliance"},"content":{"rendered":"
Avoiding the Trap of Self Reliance<\/b><\/font><\/div>\n
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Psalm 30:1-12<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nWhen I was prosperous, I said,
\n     “Nothing can stop me now!”
\nYour favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.
\n     Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.<\/p>\n

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Psalm 30:6-7<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\nSelf-reliance is quintessentially American. Our heroes are those who
\nfound strength in themselves to accomplish greatness. They didn’t depend
\non others. At least that’s the story we’ve imbibed.<\/p>\n

\tIn 1841, the American philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, published
\nhis seminal essay on “Self-Reliance.” He wrote: “Trust thyself: every
\nheart vibrates to that iron string. . . .  It is easy to see that a
\ngreater self-reliance–a new respect for the divinity in man–must work a
\nrevolution in all the offices and relations of men; in their religion;
\nin their education; in their pursuits; their modes of living; their
\nassociation; in their property; in their speculative views.” Rather than
\nrelying on anything external, even God, we are to depend on ourselves
\nand the divinity that resides in us.<\/p>\n

\tDavid was snared by the trap of self-reliance. In Psalm 30, he
\nwrites, “When I was prosperous, I said, ‘Nothing can stop me now!’ Your
\nfavor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away
\nfrom me, and I was shattered” (30:6-7). When things were going well for
\nDavid, we began to believe in his ability to control his own life, to
\naccomplish anything he sought. But, in fact, it was the Lord who had
\nmade him “secure as a mountain.” So when God hid his face from David,
\nhis life fell apart. He realized that his prosperity was not a result of
\nhis own cleverness. Rather, it was a gift from God.<\/p>\n

\tHave you ever experienced anything like this before? I know dozens,
\nprobably hundreds, of people who have lived David’s story. When things
\nwere going well in their lives, when their businesses were thriving,
\nwhen their children were “good kids,” when their health was excellent,
\nthey began to think of all of this as a result of their own doing. But
\nthen reality came crashing down like a tidal wave, washing away the
\nfiction of their self-reliance. Like David, they came to realize that
\nthey were meant to live in daily dependence upon God, honoring him in
\nall they do.<\/p>\n

\tQUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:<\/strong> When have you
\nexperienced something like David describes in Psalm 30:6-7? Why do we
\ntend to receive God’s grace and then think it’s something we have
\ndeserved or accomplished on our own? What helps you to rely upon God and
\nhis strength?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\nPRAYER:<\/strong> Dear Lord, you know how much I am like David.
\nThough I might try to blame others for my failures, I certainly claim my
\nsuccesses as my own. I can easily fool myself into thinking that I can
\nand should rely upon myself. Forgive me for such arrogance!<\/p>\n

\tLord, in this day, other powers would seek to take your unique role.
\n“Rely on yourself,” we’re told. Or: “Rely on the government.” Or: “Rely
\non your financial security.” Or: “Rely on your family.” Indeed, you
\nhave made us as relational people, and there is a measure of reliance in
\nmany relationships. But I will only be the person you have created me
\nto be when I learn to rely fully on you each day: seeking your will,
\nstrengthened by your Spirit, committed to your kingdom and glory. In
\nyou, Lord, I am strong and free to live life to the fullest, serving you
\nin all I do.<\/p>\n

\tI pray in the name of Jesus, Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Avoiding the Trap of Self Reliance Psalm 30:1-12 When I was prosperous, I said,      “Nothing can stop me now!” Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.      Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. Psalm 30:6-7 Self-reliance is quintessentially American. Our heroes are those who found strength…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Avoiding the Trap of Self-Reliance - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1432"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1432\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}