three Nail Thursday 12/9/2021

James 1:22-25

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

In verse 24 of this text, we see this line, “for he observes himself.” So the question should be asked in the season that we are in, what do you observe about yourself? Just beyond this Christmas season is where people make resolutions to improve their lives somehow. Meaning there is an area they have observed and found to be needing improvement. Therefore, they resolve to improve. 

More often than not, we look at the areas of our lives that we feel insecure about and work to improve those areas to elevate our self-worth. But, unfortunately, observing ourselves and judging ourselves has become a motivator for many, motivated more often than not into more insecurity. So, let me redefine insecurity from a spiritual perspective. 

Insecurity is often dissatisfaction with God’s provision. You are not satisfied with what God has provided to you or for you.

Insecurity is often nothing more than grumbling for better manna, just as the children of Israel did. 

We like them get tired of adequate nourishment; we want extraordinary flavor. We don’t like what God has given—money, position, appearance, personality and then we grumble for something better. 

We believe that something better will cause us to like ourselves or our life more. We believe that better things create confidence. This pursuit of confidence in the flesh ruins our view of God; it causes dissatisfaction with God and His provision in our lives. In our pursuit of “stuff”, we are displaying discontentment. Such discontentment is a snare of “many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” 1 Timothy 6:6-10. Our dissatisfaction with ourselves and the “stuff” of our life is often nothing more than our dissatisfaction with God. 

Insecurity often reveals that our confidence is found in the approval of others. We want other people to like us, love us, and judge us worthy, at the expense of what God, and how God views us. God doesn’t care, what you drive, what you wear, what you have, or what you don’t have. We all know this, and we understand that. However, we still care! We care because they still care. We care more about the things that make us worthy of a like on social media than what will make us worthy to stand before Him. 

Improve your view of God, and your picture of yourself will automatically improve as well. 

Psalm 139

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

.