The Illusion of Independence
Revelation 3:17
You say, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Laodicea had everything the world envied. It was known for its wealth, fine clothing, and cutting-edge medical advancements. The city was self-reliant to a fault. After a major earthquake devastated their region, Rome offered financial aid to rebuild. The Laodiceans proudly refused, saying they could handle it themselves. That spirit of independence had seeped into their faith. They didn’t just tell Rome, “We don’t need your help.” They were telling God the same thing.
That same illusion still deceives hearts today. The more we succeed, the easier it becomes to forget the One who made success possible. We may not say it aloud, but we live as though our jobs, talents, and strategies sustain us. We take credit for blessings that were never self-produced. Self-sufficiency whispers that as long as life looks good, we must be doing something right. But Jesus exposes the truth: when we depend on ourselves, we slowly distance ourselves from Him.
The danger of prosperity is not the possessions themselves but the pride they breed. The Laodiceans saw wealth; Jesus saw poverty. They saw security; Jesus saw blindness. They thought they were clothed in luxury, yet He said they were spiritually naked. The more they gained materially, the more they lost spiritually. That’s what self-sufficiency does. It tricks us into thinking we are strong when we are actually empty.
Jesus was not condemning their success. He was inviting them to see success through the right lens. True security doesn’t come from what you can build, but from Who you build with. True wealth is not measured in accounts or achievements, but in intimacy with the Father. The moment we realize we are utterly dependent on Him, we find freedom again. God doesn’t despise strength. He just wants to be the source of it.
Prayer:
Jesus, forgive me for the moments I’ve lived like I didn’t need You. I don’t want a faith that depends on me. I want a life that depends on You. Strip away my pride, my independence, and my illusion of control. Teach me to walk in humility, to trust You as my source, and to lean on Your strength instead of my own. In Your name, Amen.
You say, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Laodicea had everything the world envied. It was known for its wealth, fine clothing, and cutting-edge medical advancements. The city was self-reliant to a fault. After a major earthquake devastated their region, Rome offered financial aid to rebuild. The Laodiceans proudly refused, saying they could handle it themselves. That spirit of independence had seeped into their faith. They didn’t just tell Rome, “We don’t need your help.” They were telling God the same thing.
That same illusion still deceives hearts today. The more we succeed, the easier it becomes to forget the One who made success possible. We may not say it aloud, but we live as though our jobs, talents, and strategies sustain us. We take credit for blessings that were never self-produced. Self-sufficiency whispers that as long as life looks good, we must be doing something right. But Jesus exposes the truth: when we depend on ourselves, we slowly distance ourselves from Him.
The danger of prosperity is not the possessions themselves but the pride they breed. The Laodiceans saw wealth; Jesus saw poverty. They saw security; Jesus saw blindness. They thought they were clothed in luxury, yet He said they were spiritually naked. The more they gained materially, the more they lost spiritually. That’s what self-sufficiency does. It tricks us into thinking we are strong when we are actually empty.
Jesus was not condemning their success. He was inviting them to see success through the right lens. True security doesn’t come from what you can build, but from Who you build with. True wealth is not measured in accounts or achievements, but in intimacy with the Father. The moment we realize we are utterly dependent on Him, we find freedom again. God doesn’t despise strength. He just wants to be the source of it.
Prayer:
Jesus, forgive me for the moments I’ve lived like I didn’t need You. I don’t want a faith that depends on me. I want a life that depends on You. Strip away my pride, my independence, and my illusion of control. Teach me to walk in humility, to trust You as my source, and to lean on Your strength instead of my own. In Your name, Amen.
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