In our women’s Bible study at church we have been studying the story of Gideon.  The study is facilitated by Priscilla Shirer who is the daughter of Dr. Tony Evans.  It has been very thought-provoking and convicting.  In our last week, Priscilla asked us, “Who is your king?”  In the book of Judges, after all that God did to deliver the Hebrew people from the hands of the Midianites, they wanted to give the credit to Gideon and make him their king.  They failed to give credit to the One who saved them through supernatural means.  If we are really honest with ourselves, do we do the same thing today?

We don’t bow down to idols as ancient people did, but we do have our idols even yet.  Money, power, acclaim, addictions…  What hits home with you?  For me the need for praise is my main idol and pride feeds this need.  Like many others, I become my own king.  I forget that everything I am or have is a gift from God.  I can take pride in the fact that I am a doctor and bask in the praise given me.  But who gave me the opportunity to do this?  I could have been born in Africa like Shadrach and never even have the chance to get an education.  I have never had to go hungry or worry about where I would sleep.  I act as if I somehow accomplished this myself. I have to stop myself and give credit where credit is due.  I would have NOTHING without God.

Now I don’t want to insinuate that blessings just fall down on us like rain and we have nothing to do with it.  Even Gideon had to be obedient to God’s plan of attack on the Midianites.  God whittled down the number of Hebrew warriors to 300, just so they would not be able to take credit for the victory but they did anyway!  Gideon and the Hebrews had to cooperate with God but He ultimately accomplished the victory.  In this same way, we have to cooperate with God to reap the benefit of His blessings.  The farmer’s fields don’t reap a harvest unless they invest the time to plow, plant, and fertilize their crop.  God provides the miracle of the seed that with water, sunlight and the right soil becomes the mature plant.  Together the harvest is accomplished.

Jesus spoke about yoking ourselves to Him and our burden would be light.  In this analogy, we’re still working but He’s bearing the bigger load.  We are weak but if we’re paired with Jesus there is no telling what we can accomplish. In the letter to the Philippians its says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  I am blessed that God saw fit to give me the opportunity to go to Medical School but the degree didn’t just fall in my lap.  I had to study and make an investment of 11 years of my life to get there.  But if not for Jesus working beside me and pouring His strength into me, it would not have happened.  When pride starts to creep into my heart, I must stop myself from believing the lie that I did any of this on my own.  I must take myself or any other idol in my life off the throne of my heart and allow Jesus to sit as my King.