“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” Psalm 23:1
In America, our roots produce independent people, self-starters, entrepreneurs, business tycoons, and an all around spirit of self-sufficiency. Dependence on others is for wimps, a real man does not ask for directions.
Pride is the governing factor of all thinking in a fallen world. When a sinner becomes a Christian, they find themselves in a fallen world at odds with a biblical world-view that honors God as the provider of all things.
The bible never speaks of man as self-sufficient except in a sinful sense, and uses the most horrible terms to describe him, such as, wicked, self-willed, and willfully ignorant. Jesus referred to people as sheep, which are stupid animals, easy prey, which cannot find food, and allow themselves to be so dirty they can die.
The sovereign God of the universe chose to make Himself a shepherd to His people; He had to, because God alone is the source of all things. The idea that God makes things and then sets them on their way to care for themselves, as if they could, is ludicrous. Speaking of Jesus the Bible says, ‘He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” Colossians 1:17, it is Christ who keeps all things from coming apart.
The Christian is given a new awareness of his dependency on God for life, sustenance, intelligence, purpose, direction, and most of all cleansing from sin.
The Christian can say with assurance, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; thy rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” Psalm 23.
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