What is Self-Effort?
Self-effort comes from a particular mindset — the thinking of fallen man, which really springs from the lie of Eden. “I am a self, by myself, for myself. I must take care of myself; I must do good and avoid evil; I must strive for self-improvement and self-actualization.” This mindset infected Adam and Eve; we are born with it, and it is carried over into our Christian lives, even after Christ has come into our hearts and regenerated us into what the Bible calls “new creatures in Christ.” So we think, “I am a self, separate from God, with a little bit of Christ inside me to help me take care of myself, do good, and avoid evil. I must strive for self-improvement and self-actualization.” We just add Christ into the mix of that satanic mindset.
In reality we are new creatures in Christ, complete in Christ, holy, accepted in the Beloved. We are in Christ and he is in us. “I am crucified (the old “I”) with Christ; I no longer live (the old “I”) but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live (the new “I”) I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. Really, the new creation in Christ is a complete, whole person, not needing some sort of inner self-improvement or having to climb to the top of the mountain of spirituality. We are one Spirit with the Lord, and ‘in Christ we have everything we need for life and godliness.” So we have everything within us in Christ; we do not need to get more of God in our lives, or strive in effort to achieve mastery. That is a foundational fact.
But we have to go through the ‘I must improve’ mindset because it teaches us how utterly helpless we are in our own effort. We find “the good things I want to do, I’m not doing; the bad things I don’t want to do, I keep doing.” Self-effort drives this paradigm of helplessness. “The power of sin is the law.” 1Co 15:56. Our response to rules, ought-tos, and ought-nots, until we learn better, is always “I will do it.” And so we set out to be ‘like Christ’ by our effort. This ultimately crashes and burns the human machine, which cannot run on the fuel of itself. Jesus himself said, “I can do nothing of myself; the Father in me does the works.” And also, “Why do you call me good? There is none good but God.” Jesus was God in the flesh, but he set aside his omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, laid it all aside to become a servant; he operated totally and completely on the Father’s indwelling orders and operating power. And yet we step out in presumption assuming we can improve ourselves, rather than resting in his indwelling life and stepping out in faith knowing he’s going to come through us.
When we finally figure out that we are essentially helpless, unable to do good in and of our human selves, a paradigm shift occurs. We begin to see Christ within as our indwelling fuel. We start seeing him in the mirror. It is then that we are learning to ‘put on Christ,’ because we put him on not by exerting self-effort, but by inner reliance on the inner Person to live through us to others. That’s when I really began to see serious life change, a change in my attitudes and desires. Really, I began to see into the heart of my real desires in Christ – the desire to love God and love others no matter what the cost.
So an explosion happens. In the wilderness God appeared to Moses as a burning bush. This bush didn’t burn up or burn out. It’s a perfect picture of God (“our God is a consuming fire”) indwelling the human (wood in Scripture is a type or symbol of humanity). Moses, once he stopped arguing with God about his own limitations, accepted that God would be his inner life and would put words in his mouth to say and deeds in his heart to do. We become the burning bush, on fire with God’s love for others but not burning up or burning out.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Reading this again reminded me how easy it is for us Believers to “do” the work of the Lord instead of letting the Lord “do” the work of his choosing through us. At first glance, it might seem to be the same. The latter requires more dependence on the work of the Holy Spirit within us for sure. Excellent article Ron.
July 30th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
You are so right Ron. We don’t have to become any more than what God has already made us to be. What we must do is live out in our lives on the outside what God has already done for us on the inside. And just because we don’t always get it perfect on the outside (because we never will in this life) it does not mean we are not made complete and perfect on the inside. Although Satan would love for us to think differently.
July 30th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
When I read your post it made me think that spiritual growth is less the result of effort and more the result of surrender. It’s the result of discovering God’s presence and reliability!
This is my first visit to your blog. I look forward to reading more in the future.
Thanks
July 31st, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Hi,
) So there’s absolutely a solution to the problems of sin in our lives. (If we’re willing…)
This is a very interesting article – with many important points. Reminds me of a text that only recently has become clear to me: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Rom. 8:13). – The “deeds of the body” (no matter how rooted it may be) may be “put to death” – by the Spirit of God!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about these things, Ron. This is something Christianity really needs these days (cp. 2.Tim.3,1-5, esp. v.5).
hm…maybe I don’t understand how this system works (well, I do not understand), but do you have an e-mail address which I could write you something which will not be public?
Wish you the very best in everything, and may God bless you and strengthen you!
August 1st, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Amanda, yes, write to RonBlock2@aol.com.
In anything, whether it is banjo playing, or sports, or conversation, a relaxed attitude of non-effort is crucial. I can’t play the banjo if I am STRIVING to play it. Instead, I have to have hands and body relaxed, no trying, no tension. Just faith and perseverance.
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:23 pm
This article stirs up some thoughts. When Ron reminded us about the burning bush, for me it recalled a central theme to God’s Word. Realizing the same ancient One who spoke to Moses through the bush is the same God we serve and love should provoke awe in our souls. How much awe should we hold that that this same God send out His Son to ultimately lead His sheep back to the Garden relationship- holy, unspotted and undefield?
In my studies I have found that the most profound insight to any culture is through the words of that language that are not translatable into our language. It should be knows that in Biblical Hebrew there is no word for “obey.” Modern Hebrew actually had to make one up. Although our English Bibles use “obey” readily it is important to know that God never used that direct term “obey” when He speaks through His Voice, through the prophets, or even through His Son. “Obey” in our venacular indicates a blind, unthinking, unquestioning obedience as a tyrant would yoke upon his people. That is not the character of our Soverign King. In an authoritatian culture, we are discouraged to ask questions. God is quite the opposite. He invites us to inquire of Him. He desires us to ask Him questions, He rejoices as we become disillusioned (in the world’s ways) and become as children before Him – asking many questions, seeking Him – with disallusionment we begin to soak up truth like a sponge – and also begin to let go of our fear of the illusions we once had. (fear is the antithesis of love). Fear is what gripped the spies who went into Canaan. Fear is the fruit of self-effort.
The Bible is also replete with dependance on God, whether individuals or the entire nation of Israel. Joshua went into the land boldly. It was not because of his self-confidence or his physical prowess that he did so. Joshua was by our standards a senior citizen when he lead the Israelites into Canaan. But he knew God was before him,leading the charge – so even though Joshua worked, fought and stategized very hard, his confidence in the LORD gave his mind the rest, peace – and confidence that led to victory. This theme is repeated over and over again in the historical writings in Bible.
The Bible is also replete with self-effort. One of the most heart-wrenching stories of the Old Testament for me personally is when Israel asked for a human king. I know that broke God’s heart – but He allowed that choice – such is the love of our Father. But it must have hurt all the same. There are many stories about self-effort in the Bible that wind up in disaster.
Though Joshua and other Biblical characters heard God’s voice or word directly or through prophets – even through His Son – we have that same voice reaching to us through His Word – even more we have His Holy Spirit to comfort us, convict us, help us to stay in His will, neither walking to the left or to the right. God speaks to us through His Word; however it is not a one-way conversation. A relationship is a two-way conversation. 1 Th 5:17 speaks of a ceaseless prayer life. There are examples of such a life in the Bible – Jesus for one – however try reading Nehemiah 1-2 for another such example of ceaseless prayer. Realize while reading this that Nehemiah, the cup bearer for King Artaxerxes could have easily lost his head for having a sad face before the king, yet even with that knowledge, Nehemiah’s focus was on God’s guidance and deliverence. Again, Nehemiah took actions, but not before beseeching God in constant prayer.
I am a husband, a dad, an employee and a servant of God. The Bible instructs me how fulfill all these roles in a Godly fashion – yet I cannot on my own. It is too heavy a weight to fill all these roles by my own effort. I have tried and while I may be somewhat successful at one of those things, the others will suffer. I have seen hard working men accomplish amazing things with thier trade, yet fail miserably at serving God. I have seen elders accomplish many amazing things for their congregations – yet fail miserably as husbands or fathers – and witnessed the anxiety and pain of that failure. At some point in my life, I finally had to own up to the truth. I can not be all that God intends me to be without dependance on His strength, His wisdom and His love.
Here is the bottom line. Joshua had confidence and shalom because he trusted God’s voice, and that confidence and peace gave him clarity of mind to focus on the task that was set before him without stumbling.
We who trust in Jesus as our Savior have this same access to God, through His Word brought to life in us by His Holy Spirit. We should be equipped to stay in His will as we go boldly forth as His servants with the same confidence of Joshua as a warrior or Peter as an emmisary of Christ, or Ron Block as a most excellent musician.
August 6th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Eric, thanks for the good words. There is no way to fulfill all my roles except through Christ. Otherwise I am constantly juggling and dropping the ball.
September 15th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Ron,
You say:
“In anything, whether it is banjo playing, or sports, or conversation, a relaxed attitude of non-effort is crucial. I can’t play the banjo if I am STRIVING to play it. Instead, I have to have hands and body relaxed, no trying, no tension. Just faith and perseverance”
How appropriate as in less than 1 hour from now I will be going back out to play soccer after more than a decade of absence and I am filled with thoughts of “looking good”, “appearing competent”, and winning the praise of fellow players and my family. Pretty much exactly where my mind should NOT be going.
I am tense and afraid even though I know that in my tenseness, I am clumsy and I panic. It is very difficult, but I’m getting a glimpse that the only approval I need is from a heavenly, loving Father. May I get out of the way and let Him do His work through me.
September 17th, 2010 at 5:04 am
Ah the paradox…As a musician, if I do not practice I will not improve. I must do my part.
And yet, nothing does more to ruin the quality of my playing, and my enjoyment of that playing, than fear and stress. Physical and mental evidence of a lack of confidence.
October 18th, 2010 at 4:49 am
Think of this: when Jesus called His disciples, all He said was, “Follow Me”.
Pretty straightforward stuff, huh.
This was revelation to me today.
And, what did they do? They Immediately dropped what they were doing and followed Him. Not a lot of EFFORT here, they just did it. And it made all the difference.