Reliance
I've been looking around at the world lately. I've been looking at myself. I've been listening to inspirational things. I've been reading books with all of the answers. I've been having conversations with people about foundations and solutions and dreams.
There is a God. He created the Earth. We are His creation. We are his workmanship.
Such a basic concept is this, that we sometimes take it for granted. It seems to be more frequent these days, that we humans are more reliant on self, less reliant on God.
WOW. We have accomplished a lot. I mean, humans have had a lot stacked against them. Thorns and thistles have given way to cancer and AIDS, since we've conquered the thorns and thistles for the most part. I mean, how long ago was it that we didn't have enough food to feed the world? I can't even remember! The deaf can hear (my father is an example of this). The blind can see (see, for example, At First Sight). The dumb can speak (my wife is a speech pathologist, who can elaborate here).
So what are we missing???
Here's my thought - we humans are making a little utopia here on Earth. The only problem with The Kingdom of Man is that it's got potential to be like The Kingdom of God........minus God. What does He think about all this?
Does He want us to continue in our deafness, blindness, and dumbness? Does He prefer that we make other gods out of our solutions?
Where is the balance?
I hear lots of inspiration from lots of different sources, e.g., triathlon (which I participate in), medicine, art, etc. And it's GREAT!!! But only in the context where it belongs....
...subject to a Creator. Appreciative of His gifts. Listening for His directions. Straining to see His hand and His will.
The principles are right - believe in power...but what power? The power of the human, or the power of God?
Humans are amazing, God told us so. In fact, he has in many ways encouraged us to achieve. Take the parable of talents. He has given us gifts and expects us to use them for good, and amazing, works. The problem is when we accept credit for the gifts that he has given us, as you put it making gods out of acheivment. We should be inspired by what man can do, we just need to be able to focus on the message that God is sending and glorify him through our actions and the inspirational acts of others, ie... "Look what God has provided..." or "God gives such strength when his children need it the most..." I think I see the point in your question of "Does he wish us to continue in our deafness, etc" however, it is important for us also to consider that many have been healed through the gifts of God, whether it be directly by Jesus' acts of the holy spirit, or through "talents" given to doctors or athletes. Remember that Jesus told his followers that they too would do great things, in fact he told them that they would do greater things, than even he did. He wants us to bear fruit, to not be like the fig tree he commanded to wither and die because it had a false front and simply looked good, he wanted it and us to take that extra step and be good, bear fruit. So, maybe it is as important for us to give credit to the source when we see inspiration, to say aloud that God worked for them, and if I ask he will work for me too. What could be more inspirational than that? I think that God has given us many examples of inspiration, and Jesus has asked us to "feed his flock" with the same. We just need to always recognize where the source is. Thanks for the thoughts, MUCH LOVE,
Geoff