The NBA Finals begin tonight with the matchup promoted as the best player taking on the best team.
Stacked with an elite lineup of players (Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green), the Warriors have talent that is hard to beat.
Then there's LeBron's consistent greatness throughout the playoffs that carried the Cavaliers back to the Finals with an average of 34 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game.
Unfortunately for LeBron, he doesn't have a strong supporting cast (Kyrie Irving was traded in the offseason and Kevin Love's concussion may make him miss tonight) and has had to shoulder the responsibility for this "weak" team.
I’ve been riding the LeBron bandwagon and realize his ability to lead this group of Cavs players to the Finals is one of his most remarkable accomplishments.
However, I think when we give LeBron too much acclaim for his individual performance, we're overlooking the coaches, trainers, and teammates...and drawing the conclusion he's self-made and the only one contributing to the success of the team.
In life, we are impressed by people who appear to be self-made, and may even be driven to become self-sufficient ourselves. However, there's a problem with that mentality when we don't account for the number of contributors along the way, our natural born abilities, and the reality that God is the source and our provider.
When we get caught up in self-sufficiency and desire praise and credit for our individual accomplishments, we pridefully edge out God. Even if we’re working for the Lord, we can start seeking the attention of others and lean toward self-reliance.
Paul gives us a good reminder about self-sufficiency when he writes in 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (ESV): "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God…”
Jesus warns us about doing things apart from Him by saying, "I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 - AMP).
If we aren’t careful, self-sufficiency can sneak into our view of salvation, too, as we begin to believe God's grace is earned through our own efforts. But God's power and Spirit allow us to place our faith in Jesus - not our impressive works.
Ephesians 2:8 (AMP) tells us, "For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves , but it is the gift of God.”
Today, let’s admit our weaknesses and confess our need for God and others along the way. Even if we think we’re self-sufficient or self-made, the truth is, we're not. Let’s be challenged to find freedom in that, and embrace how magnificent our God is...the true source and sustainer of our lives.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for believing I’m self-sufficient and the pride that comes from that mindset. I pray I’d be humble. Thank you for Your grace and that I can find my rest in You. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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