People who like to think they’re self-made also want to believe this world made itself. What madness!
There is a long parenthesis in Deuteronomy 8 (vv 12-16). In it Moses describes what could be an unfortunate result of God’s generosity to Israel. “When you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness…” (vv 12-15). Here is the first half of the warning: “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—” and here Moses inserts God’s wonderful provisions for His people, both during the wilderness journey and once they enter Canaan. Then, with the parenthesis removed, it continues: “lest—then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’” Oh the arrogance of thinking I’m self-made! Have you seen the bronze statue by sculptor Bobbie Carlyle of a man chipping himself out of a block of stone with a hammer and chisel? It’s by the roadside in Batavia, Illinois (with copies elsewhere). Ironically, in 2011 the “self-made man” was knocked over and needed assistance to get back on his non-existing feet! Like Dagon, imagine worshipping a god that can’t get up off his own face (1 Sam 5:3)! Better far to remember Paul’s questions, “What do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7). It’s always good to have a healthy dose of reality served up to us by our loving Lord.