- Sufficiency
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God!
Self-sufficiency is a noble goal for individuals to strive for according to human standards. But before God self-sufficiency just will not suffice. Human sinners cannot sufficiently direct their lives for success or for acceptance with God. The more we try with our own efforts the more we will continue to fail. And we do get any credit for effort. The more we try the more frustrated we become. God never says, “Try! And I will give you an A for effort.” God says, “Do! Be perfect and righteous in all your ways.” In the words of Yoda, “Try not; Do.” Do not “think any thing of ourselves,” because your works and efforts will always be insufficient. Stop deluding yourself into thinking you can be “good;” face the fact and the verdict: You are not good;you can’t do it; give up trying; you are dead; you will ever be insufficient. Our only hope is to throw ourselves onto the mercy of God. If God is not merciful all hope is lost.
But the good news is that God is merciful, because of Jesus Christ. By grace Jesus Christ earns God’s favor. For Jesus’ sake God will be sufficient for us. Our sufficiency is of God. The sufficiency of God should be enough for us, and it is. We give up on ourselves; now we can confidently say, “My sufficiency is of God. I am completely sufficient. God is all I have and He is all I need.”
God is all-sufficient. I give up on myself; I give up on my own efforts; I cease striving and stressing. I can totally trust God. He gives me everything I need to be wholly righteous, perfect, holy and acceptable to live in God’s Presence. In Him I deserve life eternally and abundantly. With the Lord as my Shepherd I lack nothing. He is sufficient for all that I need, spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, relationally, and financially.I only end up with insufficiency when I trust myself instead of God, when I try by myself before turning to God, when I think, “I can handle this” and forget to let God be God. My sufficiency is of God.