Is The Secret a suitable motivational resource for Christians? Isn't some "positive thinking" valuable for believers facing a challenge? If you are unfamiliar with The Secret, check out the previous two posts. The first examines its core philosophy; the second examines its view of God. Both examinations conclude that, at a fundamental level, The Secret and a biblically informed world-view are polar opposites. In which case, I would look elsewhere for material for my next motivational pep-talk.
There is a very different kind of "we can do it" speech in the Old Testament. Here's some background: The Philistines, Israel's enemy, had the upper hand. To maintain their dominance over Israel, the Philistines maintained a monopoly on blacksmith services. By controlling the manufacture and repair of all metal implements, they kept metal weaponry out of Israel's hands. (How would you like to fight an enemy who decided what weapons you could use against him?)
So when we come to 1 Sam. 14, Israel's army has a total of two iron swords, one for King Saul and one for his son, Jonathan. Jonathan decides one morning to go on a little scouting expedition (along with his armor-bearer). They spy out a Philistine garrison and Jonathan gives "the big speech:" Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few” (1 Sam. 14:6).
Here's what I really like about Jonathan's pep-talk with his armor-bearer. He discerns what they CAN do and what they CAN'T. Jonathan knows that it is his choice about whether to use his sword to fight Philistines or not, and He looks to God for guidance about what choice to make. Jonathan also knows, however, that God will choose the outcome, and His choice will not be constrained by circumstances or numbers.
What happened next? God made it clear that Jonathan should use his sword to battle Philistines. About twenty men fell before his blade. Then God shook things up with an earth-quake. Confusion rippled through the Philistine camp, and everyone with a sword (no shortage of swords in the Philistine camp!) used it against a fellow Philistine. When the dust had settled, "the Lord delivered Israel that day" (1 Sam. 14:23).
Jonathan did not get confused about who does what. He didn't try to psych himself up. He didn't say, "If we just believe in ourselves, we can win." He was quite clear that victory did not depend on his ability to convince himself he had the right stuff. He deferred to and relied on God. Jonathan was bold in the knowledge that if God decides to work, then it doesn't matter who has more swords. It only matters who is following the Lord's direction.
Your ability to psych yourself up is not the key to success. Success is doing what God directs, regardless of how things look.
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