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We Don’t Fail Because Others Are Too Strong
We Don’t Fail Because Others Are Too Strong
“Never blame your failure on the strength of another”. I do not know the origin of the quote, but the idea is biblical. Manhood (and womanhood) does not make excuses. Real men accept responsibility. Our failures are ours to own. If we fail, it is not because another is too strong, we fail because we are too weak. We fail because we don’t rely on our God who is strong, our helper, and there in times of need. All we need to do is ask.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 54:4 (ESV) Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
Hebrews 13:6 (ESV) So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
When we believers fail because we don’t rely upon God, it gives the enemy an opportunity to blaspheme God. As good a king as Hezekiah was, here is a time he failed in weakness:
“At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the LORD’s sanctuary and from the doorposts he had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria.” (CSB’17 2 Kings 18:16)
This led to the Assyrians disrespecting Yahweh:
“…But don’t listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you, saying, “The LORD will rescue us.” Has any of the gods of the nations ever rescued his land from the power of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my power? Who among all the gods of the lands has rescued his land from my power? So will the LORD rescue Jerusalem from my power?’”” (CSB’17 2 Kings 18:32-35)
When we blame others, make excuses, and fail, not only do we look bad, we cause others to look at our God and think “Why should I worship that? He can’t help me”. They then can blame our failure on the weakness of a god we have made in our weak image. Do we want to look weak? More importantly, do we want God to look weak? Be strong, but “be strong in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10)
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