The issue of dependence is a difficult piece for a nation of people known for independence. The very foundation of our country was laid in the idea of independence. We fought for it. We gave our lives for it as a nation. And yet somewhere along the way, as with all things which start well, we lost our way. Independence was never meant to be an excuse to not trust God. The question then arises. “Are you depending on God in your everyday life?”

Living Life Independent of God is Never a Good Thing

• Here are some quotes on independence that show this wayward trend of a lack of dependence.

“I’d rather die my way than live yours.” ― Lauren Oliver, Delirium (Delirium, #1)

“I have not lived as a woman. I have lived as a man. I’ve just done what I blank well wanted to, and I’ve made enough money to support myself, and ain’t afraid of being alone.” ― Katharine Hepburn

“Marriage is another trap. If you are someone who likes independence, it’s another stamp against that. And you have to swear to fidelity.”― Carla Bruni

• Christianity is a dependent lifestyle not an independent one.
• Independence of God and reliance upon one’s own abilities do not mesh with Kingdom of Heaven theology.
• Americans have mixed their independent mindset with the Bible.
• We have thought to be dependent was a sign of weakness.

ILLUSTRATION: Doormats
Have you ever heard of the “Dependent Order of Really Meek and Timid Souls”? When you make an acrostic of its first letters, you have “Doormats.”¹

• This is the mindset; if you are dependent, you are a doormat.
  • We try to avoid this label by fiercely living out our independence.
• ‘Wait on God’, you say?
• ‘What? Ask Him for direction’, you chime in?
  • Yes indeed.

Our Life’s Race Requires Help from on High

• Help must be received by faith.
• The phrase the ‘just shall live by faith is mentioned four different times in scripture.

Romans 1:17 (KJV)
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
⁴ Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: But the just shall live by his faith.

Hebrews 10:38 (KJV)
³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Galatians 3:11 (KJV)
¹¹ But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

• It’s obvious from the Bible we are to live by faith.
• The words ‘faith’ and ‘believe’ are mentioned over 500 times in the New Testament not counting words like trust or confidence which also imply faith.
• How many more times does He have to mention faith before we understand that we are to trust and depend on Him?
• Isaiah 30:1-3 is one of the classic examples of not depending on the Lord.

The Danger of Not Depending on the Lord

Isaiah 30:1–3 (KJV)
¹ Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, That take counsel, but not of me; And that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, That they may add sin to sin: ² That walk to go down into Egypt, And have not asked at my mouth; To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt! ³ Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, And the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

• There is absolutely a problem with living your Christian life in the spirit of independence.

The Psalmist and Depending on God

Psalm 25:1–2 (ESV)
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

• Notice the two words “my God” in you I trust.
• Is God, your God at the end of the day?
• Plug this phrase into the situations of your life and ask yourself, “Do I trust Him, do I depend upon Him in every situation.”
• Is He the one you cry to when your crying?
• Is He the one you look to when you are longing?
• Is He the one you engage when your empty?
• Is He just a God up in heaven when you are going through difficult or is He “my God” to you in every circumstance?
• You may think the answers to these questions are obvious.
• Every one depends on God right?
• Even Bible characters depend on God, right?
• Jacob prayed a ‘my God’ prayer in Gen. 28.

[Tweet “Is God the one you cry to when your crying? Is He the one you look to when you are longing?”]

Genesis 28:20–22 (KJV)
²⁰ And Jacob vowed a vow, sayinger, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, ²¹ So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: ²² And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

• Interesting prayer Jacob prayed here, correct?
• Look at the sequence of events, though, leading up to this prayer in Gen. 28 and ask yourself ‘Do you think Jacob’s prayer is a picture of dependence?
• Do you think it’s a worthy Psalm 25 prayer?

Genesis 27:41 (KJV)
⁴¹ And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

• Esau hates Jacob because of the blessing his father Isaac gave him.
• He vows to kill his brother.
• Jacob is dealing with the threat of death over his head; not a good feeling to wake up to.
• His mother Rebekah finds out about Esau’s plan to kill Jacob and sends Jacob away to her brother Laban’s house until things cool off.

Genesis 27:42–45 (KJV )
⁴² And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. ⁴³ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; ⁴⁴ And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away; ⁴⁵ Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

• Jacob heads toward Haran where Laban lives and has a dream.
• He has a night vision.
• He sees angels ascending and descending up and down a ladder.
• He also sees the Lord at the top of the ladder.
• And the Lord speaks to Jacob in this dream and reaffirms to Jacob what He had already said to his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham concerning the land.
• The Lord then promises to be with him AND keep him until He performs all His promise.
• Then Jacob awakes from his dream.

Genesis 28:10–15 (KJV)
10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

• Jacob realizes that the Lord has spoken to him when he awakes and builds an altar.

Genesis 28:16–19 (KJV)
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

• Then comes this vow from Jacob’s lips.
• Jacob has this miraculous dream and then says if God will do such and such, he will be my God.
• Summarizing, here is the sequence.
  • Esau wants to kill Jacob.
  • Jacob runs.
  • God visit’s Jacob in a dream.
  • Jacob vows to take God as ‘my God’.
• The offer is conditional based on if God helps him.
• Is this the standard we should use for dependence on God?
• Shouldn’t the sequence look like this instead?
  • Jacob vows to take God as ‘my God’.
  • Esau wants to kill Jacob.
  • Jacob runs.
  • God visit’s Jacob in a dream.
  • Jacob trusts God unconditionally.
• Shouldn’t taking God as your God be first in line?
• It was with the psalmist.
• The psalmist declared in Psalm 25, ’You are my God, I will trust you. ‘
• The psalmist put God unconditionally first.
• Jacob’s declaration was just the opposite, conditional.
• His prayer was the classic “I am in trouble, God if you get me out of it, I will never do that again prayer” which people often pray when they are neck deep in troubles.
• So in the midst of this situation, Jacob’s prayer is this.
• “God if you get me out of this one. You will be my God.”
• Automatically implying the opposite. “If you don’t get me out….” (You can fill in the blank here.)
• Jacob should have started out with the prayer which he finished with.
• He should have prayed, “God you are my God, and because you are my God, now deliver me.”

Call to Action:

What does this all mean to you? What about taking some of these thoughts you have heard today and overlaying them on your life? What do you come up with? Are you trusting in Him or relying on yourself? Do you bow your head and ask for help before you do an endeavor or do you go out on your own? Is it you with God getting it done or is it all you? If it’s just you, I am here to tell you that this is a sign of failing Christian life. That is a sign of a lack of dependence.

Question: In what area of your walk with Christ have you made a quality decision to always depend on God? Would you please share your thoughts in the comments section below?

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References