Naturally our minds first go to our income, living status, and if we have to answer to anyone at our jobs. But spiritually speaking, are you independent or dependent?
It is great to be proactive and work to get things done on your own but for the sake of hopefully growing even more with our heavenly Father, let’s look at a few definitions of “independent”.
- Not requiring or relying on something else: not contingent
- Not subject to control by others
- Not looking to others for one’s opinions or for guidance in conduct
As a believer it’s crucial to your relationship with God to rely on Him, Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him”. To rely on the Holy Spirit in our daily activities can greatly increase our ability to hear His voice, as well as strengthen our relationship with Him. No, it’s not necessary to ask the Holy Spirit what shirt you should wear for the day, but putting your faith in Him to give you wisdom on how to talk to unsaved people around you, or to give you better ideas at work is a great way to amplify His voice.
Submission is also important because as a believer we are under the authority most importantly of God, but also of our bosses, pastors, volunteer leads, school professors, etc. Unless these people are asking us to do things directly contrary to the Bible, listening to their direction and showing them respect is honorable to God.
Ultimately, God’s knowledge and guidance is the most accurate and beneficial direction we should take. Still, the counsel of fellow believers or your pastor can help you tremendously. We should always revert back to the Word and make sure whatever we have been told lines up with scripture before we take action. That does not mean though, that we should throw out the idea of receiving guidance from those who have been through what we are going through or are on a higher level than us spiritually.
Can you think of areas in your life where you could further be dependent on God? Here are a couple ways to begin that dependence:
- Read the Bible daily. Take note of God’s character and the stories of triumph when other men and women in the Bible relied on Him.
- Recall your own testimonies. Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past is a great way to build your trust in Him.
I know many people who are immensely proud of their independence and their personal accomplishments, which is by no means wrong, but when we look at it from the point of view of our relationship with the Lord, it’s possible we may need to adjust some things.
