One of the biggest tricks of the devil: Looking Out for Number One
Looking out for number one (self) is actually selfish, prideful and you are not trusting
God. Your happiness is not determined by the atmosphere outside you, but the
atmosphere inside you. The world says, I will be happy when! The trouble with that is
that everything is not perfect. The Bible says in Proverb 4:23 “keep your heart with all
diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” Jesus said “for whosoever will save his life
will lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man
profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? “ (Matthew 16;25-26a).
Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew
5:3 (NIV) poor in spirit = humility. The same verse in the Phillips translation says
“Happy are those who know their need for God, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs”.
Knowing you need for God = humility.
Humility – a freedom from arrogance that grows out of the recognition that all we have
and are comes from God. Humble people focus more on God and others than on
themselves. Biblical humility is also a recognition that by ourselves we are inadequate,
without dignity and worthless. Yet, because we are created in God’s image and
because believers are in Christ, we have infinite worth and dignity (I Corinthians 4:6-7; I
Peter 1;18-19). True humility does not produce pride but gratitude. Since God is both
our Creator and Redeemer, our existence and righteousness depend on Him (John 15:
5; Acts 17:28; Ephesians 2:8-10). Humility lifts you from the stressed zone to the
blessed zone. The Bible tells us “humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand
of God, that He may life you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He
cares for you” (I Peter 5:6-7). Humility lifts you from the weak zone to the strength
zone. The Bible says “He gives more grace, wherefore He says, God resist the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.
The world says “if you don’t look out for yourself, who will?” they say you need to be
self sufficient, self reliant and self centered.” We should not look out for number one,
but we need to look up to number One. We were not made to live life of our own
strength (John 15:1-7).
The devil has been using the same tricks, the same thing he tempted Eve with, he is
using today (Genesis 3:4-6), he said that God was holding something back, and she
needed to think for herself.
The Bible tells us “there has not temptation taken you but such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” (I
Corinthians 10:13). We have to look to God for the way out of our circumstances.
Remember James says “if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to
all men liberally, and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and
tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:
5-7).
The Word of God is the way out remember Jesus in the wilderness said “it is written”,
then He quoted the Word that came against what satan said.
How to look up to the real number One (God)?
1) Empty yourself by confession: Empty out pride, anxiety, stress and worries
(Philippians 4:6-9), admit any where you have been trying to live for and by yourself,
repent, and ask God to forgive you. Then ask Him to show you His path. The Bible
says “the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord, and He delights in his way”
(Psalm 37:23) and Proverb 16:9 says “a man’s heart devises his way, but the Lord
directs his steps”. God can’t fill us up, if we are all filled with self.
2) Fill up yourself, by surrendering to God’s power: Recognize your need for God’s
help in your circumstances. Remember ask God for your way out. You can’t
accomplish God’s purpose in your own power. We are told to “Rejoice in the Lord
always, and again I say rejoice (Philippians 4:4).
3) Soar by sharing: “Fulfill you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love,
being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but
in lowliness of mind. Let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every
man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him
the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in
fashion as a man He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the death
on the cross. (Philippians 2:2-8).
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 4, 2006