Banes S. Lal
There were hundreds of self-help motivators in my twenties. They would appear on infomercials late at night with their million-dollar smile. The wealthy, confident, successful person who had their act together asserted that you could have it too! Their words painted a pretty picture, but you won't find any of them in scripture.
They all had a variation of the same story to shill—inspirational stories about going from rags to riches or finding that perfect relationship. Then some would preach, "you too can succeed in any business," only $99 or, in some cases, $1000's to purchase their books and courses. If you follow their plan, your life will be rich, satisfying, and complete. Finally, you'll be able to get your act together!
It sounds somewhat gratifying to design a life of luxury on the surface. At least that's the promise. I know I was attracted by all the grandstanding - If you put measurable steps in place, you too can achieve your grandiose dreams. Just following your heart where it leads you!
But haven't we read the heart's been known to lead a fool astray and more importantly, "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;" Jeremiah 17:9
I'm not claiming that all self-help strategies are harmful. Some techniques, such as time management, better business skills, and maintaining good relationships, may benefit all of us. But anything that stresses the self at the expense of God is misleading.
There is danger lurking in the self-improvement space because we have deceptive, dark hearts (Jer. 17:9). Improving yourself can become idolatry faster than saying "positive mental attitude" since we worship what we feel would satisfy us. Self-help can become a mission of self-glorification, robbing us of the joy of seeing Jesus as our treasure, Saviour, and helper.
When we come to faith in Jesus, we are transformed. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In God's eyes, we are counted righteous; God improves us, transforms us, and gives us new hearts.
So are you examining the life lessons doled out by the self-help approach through the lens of biblical truth, or has it evolved into its own religion? God is the one who determines your worth. Using secular self-help strategies to aid spiritual growth or improve daily living skills could benefit. However, they're not required, especially in a world governed by social media; spiritual discernment is essential.
Here are a few examples of how self-help can lead to self-harm:
1. It is self-centred.
Self-help illuminates the self and encourages introspection. At the same time, some reflection can be beneficial. But keep in mind that true humility entails thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.
2. It is frequently devoid of prayer.
One is tempted not to pause and seek God's assistance. Hands are preoccupied with reaching the next goal than folding into prayer. Lets' take the lead from the Lord, "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, (Philippians 2:6-7) would; pray to the Father, seeking guidance and then waiting. Prayer is a profoundly intimate conversation between God the Father and you!
3. It wrongly assumes that one can change themselves.
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man" (Matt. 15:18-20).
You see, our hearts can only change when we encounter God.
The truth is that we can't handle anything without Jesus Christ; all the good vibes in the world won't make a dead heart... beat.
So, should we abandon all attempts at self-improvement? Certainly not. However, we shouldn't put our faith in them. Instead, we must place our trust in Christ, who is the solid rock upon which we should build our lives. We must not allow self-help to descend into a false gospel or a false god. The gospel points a restless heart in the direction of that which satisfies. The actual power to change is in Jesus' nail-pierced hands, so if we let go of our desire to improve our status in life and instead cling to him, we'll find our hearts soaring as we get closer to him.
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