Our age seems determined to dethrone God and enthrone self. While we are encouraged by a self-centered society to “be all we want to be” and “say ‘yes’ to ourselves,” we are at the same time warned against becoming too religious or coming to rely too heavily upon God as an “emotional crutch.”
Positive thinking can be a powerful force for good, but only when embraced in conjunction with spiritual dynamics.
It is true that Paul, the apostle, proclaimed, “I can do all things,” but it is also true that he did not stop there. He saw himself able to “do all things” only “through Christ” which gave him strength. (Philippians 4:13.) Paul considered his own life, with all its accomplishments and glories, as nothing, as refuse, for “the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:8.)
Again Paul writes, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14.)
We would all be better served to stop serving self and begin anew serving the Christ who died for us. True happiness and fulfillment in this life come only by preparing for the life to come. Unless God comes first nothing we do will last.