The Lie of Self-HelpSýnishorn

The Lie of Self-Help

Fifty-two percent of adults who call themselves Christian accept a works-oriented means to God’s acceptance. Even more troubling is that seventy percent of Catholics, forty-six percent of Pentecostals, forty-four percent of Protestants, and forty-one percent of evangelicals believe a person can qualify for heaven by being or doing good (ACU Cultural Research Center). It’s all too common to slip into the mindset that our worth is linked to our performance.

In fact, since the beginning, self-help seems to have been a temptation for Christians. In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul asks this: “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:2-3). Self-help didn’t save us, so how can we expect to grow in godliness in our own strength? Living in God’s power is the only path forward that doesn’t end in exhaustion, tragic compromise, or ruin.

Don’t get me wrong, I have a few shelves of the best self-help books. Although great truths are packed into them on topics like discipline, habits, and time management, they fail when they put the onus upon us to succeed in our efforts alone.

God’s calling is higher than most self-help enthusiasts are aiming for. The gospel goes to the soul of a man or woman. The gospel gets into messes that self-help doesn’t even try to address. The gospel intends to alter the direction of our life and the very way we walk through this life. This work is tough, thorough, and impossible if not for God. Paul wouldn’t touch self-help. Look at how he approached his work of witnessing and disciple-making: “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Col. 1:29). His life and ministry were all about God’s power—and that’s what we need!

Believe God to do what you haven’t been able to achieve through your best efforts. God is ready and eager to do with you what you can’t do alone. You have to ask!

TIME TO LET GO:

• Reflect on the moment you invited Jesus into your life. Did you recognize your desperate need for a Savior?
• Ask God to help you have a similar posture of dependence as you pursue spiritual growth.