“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
[6] He is like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.
[7] “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
[8] He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
There is a quiet temptation that follows success.
It rarely arrives dramatically.
Instead, it grows slowly.
A little more confidence.
A little less dependence.
A growing belief that we can manage on our own.
The Bible calls this temptation self-reliance.
At first glance, self-reliance appears admirable. It suggests independence, resilience, and competence. Modern culture often celebrates the person who needs no help and answers to no one.
Yet Jeremiah paints a very different picture.
He contrasts two ways of living: one that trusts in human strength alone, and one that places its confidence in the Lord.
The difference is profound.
When Confidence Becomes Dependence on Ourselves
There is nothing wrong with developing skills.
Scripture encourages diligence.
It commends wisdom.
It praises faithful work.
The problem begins when confidence quietly becomes dependence.
Instead of saying,
“God has equipped me,”
we begin to think,
“I have done this myself.”
Prayer becomes less frequent.
Humility becomes less visible.
Success becomes something we own rather than something we steward.
Self-reliance often arrives disguised as maturity.
The Tree in the Desert
Jeremiah uses two striking images.
The first is like a shrub growing in the desert.
It survives, but only just.
It lives in dry places.
Its roots have little access to lasting nourishment.
The second image is completely different.
A tree planted beside water.
Its roots stretch towards the stream.
Even when drought comes, it continues to bear fruit.
The difference is not external circumstances.
Both experience difficult seasons.
The difference is where their roots are found.
Where Are Our Roots?
Roots are hidden.
People see the tree.
They do not see what sustains it.
The same is true spiritually.
Others notice:
- our work,
- our ministry,
- our achievements,
- our influence.
But God sees our roots.
Do they reach into his grace?
Or are they relying only upon personal ability?
The health of a tree depends upon what cannot easily be seen.
So does the health of a disciple.
Success Can Become Spiritually Dangerous
Failure often drives people towards God.
Success can quietly pull them away.
When everything seems to be working:
- prayer can become occasional,
- gratitude can diminish,
- and dependence can fade.
This is why success requires as much spiritual vigilance as difficulty.
The greatest threat is not achievement itself.
It is forgetting the One who made achievement possible.
Dependence Is Not Weakness
The world often treats dependence as failure.
Christian faith presents dependence as wisdom.
Jesus himself lived in continual dependence upon the Father.
He prayed regularly.
He withdrew for solitude.
He sought the Father’s will above his own.
If the Son of God lived dependently, we should not imagine ourselves beyond needing God.
Dependence is not immaturity.
It is faithful relationship.
Self-Reliance and Leadership
This month’s theme is power and responsibility.
Leadership creates particular risks.
People begin asking for advice.
Seeking decisions.
Following direction.
Slowly, leaders may begin believing that everything depends upon them.
But no leader was designed to carry that burden alone.
Healthy leaders depend upon:
- God,
- wise counsel,
- trusted colleagues,
- and honest accountability.
Self-reliance isolates.
Wisdom invites others in.
The Illusion of Control
Self-reliance often creates the illusion of control.
If we work hard enough…
Plan carefully enough…
Think clearly enough…
Then perhaps nothing will go wrong.
Life repeatedly proves otherwise.
Illness arrives unexpectedly.
Plans change.
Relationships shift.
Circumstances beyond our control reshape our future.
These moments reveal whether our confidence rests in ourselves or in God.
Trust Changes How We Face Difficulty
Jeremiah does not promise an easy life.
The tree planted by water still experiences heat.
It still experiences drought.
The difference is not the absence of hardship.
The difference is resilience.
Trusting God does not remove every challenge.
It provides strength within them.
That is a far greater promise.
The Quiet Practice of Dependence
Dependence is cultivated through ordinary habits.
Prayer before decisions.
Gratitude after success.
Confession after failure.
Listening before speaking.
Seeking wisdom before acting.
These practices deepen our roots.
Over time they shape hearts that instinctively turn towards God rather than inward towards themselves.
Christ Our True Source
Jesus later uses similar imagery when he says:
Branches do not produce fruit independently.
They remain connected to the vine.
The same principle appears throughout Scripture.
Life flows from relationship with God.
Not from isolated effort.
Carrying This Forward
As July continues, we are exploring how power should be exercised responsibly.
Jeremiah reminds us that responsible leadership begins with dependence.
Because people who know they need God’s grace are far less likely to misuse the influence they have been given.
The Invitation
Where are your roots today?
What are you relying upon most?
Your experience?
Your achievements?
Your reputation?
Or the God who faithfully sustains you?
These questions are worth asking regularly.
Because the strongest lives are not built upon self-confidence alone.
They are built upon quiet, daily dependence on the One who never fails.
And those whose roots remain in him
continue to bear fruit—
even in seasons of drought.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright © Crossway.
