Words like help me, give me, serve me, show me, teach me, lead me, and guide me are all being demanded throughout our culture today.
It would seem, “desiring dependence” as a life choice is the new normal.
Everywhere we look we can see this playing out. People seem to have lost the desire for independence and personal responsibility; to the point where they have chosen to rebel against it.
The notion we are capable of choosing our own path has given way to the belief we need someone else to pave that path for us. This truth is evident and growing.
What has happened to create this innate desire for dependency instead of the longing for independence of bygone years?
I believe the primary reason is people are looking for an easier way in life. Their desire for a level playing field is no longer enough. Today, everyone seems to believe the field should be tilted in their favor.
This is not new.
Adam and Eve traded a life in paradise for a chance to be like God. Cain killed Abel because of his need to be better, or at the very least, on the same level as his brother. Jacob stole Esau’s birthright. David took Bathsheba and had Uriah killed.
You see, humanity has and always will see itself in need of more and will do whatever it takes to attain it.
Covetiveness or the need to have what someone else has is the primary motivation. Ironically, trading our independence for dependence will not feed this insatiable desire for more.
The truth is the only way to fill this void that exist in all of us is by “desiring dependence”. But not on what we feel we don’t have, we must desire to be dependent on God. When we place our hope and trust in Him, we will find our lives are more than enough.
Here’s where dependence leads not only to independence, but to freedom and liberty.
The question we must all ask is, will being dependent on any thing else ever fill the emptiness that leads us to giving up our independence so easily?
I suppose that notion depends on each of us.
Isaiah 41:13, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
