Is It Me?????  

Today’s devotional is going to be a little different.

Yesterday, while watching YouTube, I heard something that sounded familiar, inspiring, and just a little bit off at the same time.

A gentleman was being interviewed about wealth, success, and why some people have it while others do not. I will not mention his name, but he is a very successful multimillionaire. During the interview, he said the main principle of success comes down to three words:

Be. Do. Have. 

Then he explained it this way: 

“If you be a little, do a little, you will have a little. But everybody can get excited now. If you’ll be a lot, you can do a lot, and you can have a lot.” 

Now, let’s be honest. That sounds good. Coming from a multimillionaire, it sounds even better. It sounds motivational. It sounds like something you would hear with dramatic music playing in the background while someone is walking in slow motion toward a private jet. And to be fair, I do believe he meant well. I also believe there is some truth in the importance of work ethic, discipline, focus, and growth. We should not be lazy. We should not bury our gifts. We should not sit around waiting for something to happen while refusing to be faithful with what God has placed in our hands.

But we also have to slow down and examine the message. Because when you really listen to that statement, there is a whole lot of “you” in it. If you be this, then you can do this, and then you can have this. Does that sound familiar? It sounds a lot like what we hear today in many places:

Manifest it.

Name it and claim it.

Speak it into existence.

Will it into reality.

You are the source.

You are the power.

You are the one who makes it happen.

And I will be honest with you. I have said some of those things before too. Maybe once. Maybe twice. Maybe three times. The Lord has work in me, so do not judge me too quickly. But as I continued reading and studying the Word of God, I began to see things differently. Scripture does not teach us that we are the source of our provision. Scripture teaches us that God is.

Proverbs 16:33 says:

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” (NIV)

Matthew 6:33 says:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (ESV)

Leviticus 25:21 says:

“Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years.” (NKJV)

Philippians 4:19 says:

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Do you see the common theme? God decides. God adds. God commands the blessing. God meets the need. Now, let me say this clearly: this does not mean we do nothing. Faith is not laziness with church clothes on. We still have a responsibility to work, steward, obey, prepare, grow, and move when God tells us to move. There is nothing wrong with being bold. There is nothing wrong with doing the work. There is nothing wrong with having vision, goals, or ambition.

The issue is not with being, doing, or having. The issue is when we remove God from the center and put ourselves there instead. That is where we have to be careful. Because some messages sound powerful, but they quietly shift our trust from God to ourselves. They may motivate us, but if we are not careful, they can also make us believe that everything rises and falls on our own ability, our own words, our own hustle, and our own strength. And that is a heavy place to live. The truth is, I do not want to build a life where I am the source. I want to build a life where God is the source. I do not want to chase success so hard that I forget the One who gives purpose. I do not want to gain things and lose wisdom. I do not want to be impressive in public but empty in private. I do not want to have more stuff and less peace.

That is why we must take what we hear and hold it up against the Word. Not our emotions. Not the comment section. Not how many followers someone has. Not how rich they are. The Word.

I want to close with three words of my own:

Caution. Careful. Consider.

Be cautious about what you take in. Be careful about who you allow to shape your thinking. And always consider what the Word of God says. Because at the end of the day, our help does not come from manifestation. Our provision does not come from positive thinking alone. Our strength does not come from our own willpower. Our help comes from the Lord. So yes, be faithful. Yes, do the work. Yes, steward what God has placed in your hands. But never forget who gives the increase. God is the source. Everything else is just a resource.

Next Steps:

Take a moment today and ask yourself: “Is there an area where I have been trusting more in my own effort than in God’s provision?” Then ask the Heavenly Father to help you to work faithfully without making myself the source. 

God bless you, God keep you. God loves you and I love you too!