Once in a while someone reacts to my writing by saying
it sounds like self-help.
I suppose that's because I write a lot about the things God calls us to be 'doing'... and do so with the belief that He uses our efforts to bring about real transformation to our world.
But let's talk about this a minute...
Self-help is the idea that we can improve ourselves and become who we want to be
through our own self-effort. And the focus of such effort is usually on our own goals and achievements... and in many cases our own fulfillment and glory.
Well, I don't believe that's what we ought to be doing.
And I don't believe anyone can live out the design God has for them through self effort either. In fact, to try and do so is a prescription for failure.
What I do believe is that God calls us to use our gifts to do His work and advance his kingdom... and I believe as we do so, He blesses us.
I also believe in order to do this we have to discipline ourselves and take up our crosses daily and follow Him... in order to fulfill our role as members of His new creation.
This certainly involves a fair amount of
'doing' on our part... doing which hopefully leads to "good works."
But it's ALL done by his grace.
And for HIS glory.
It's not at all what the world would call 'self-help.'
It's what the Bible calls obedience... or being faithful to the Spirit's work in our
lives.