During 2019, in the United States alone, the expenditure on motivational self-improvement programs and products was $11 billion.[1] This included books, DVDs, infomercials, motivational speakers, webinars, retreats, and personal coaches. Often, we already know what we need to do, or at least where we may go to find out (just Google it) – the problem is doing what we know to do. We struggle to change, apparently even when our lives are at stake. Numerous studies over the years suggest that even in the face of significant health outcomes, 90% refuse to follow “doctor’s orders”. Dr. Raphael Levey of the Global Medical Forum estimates that 80% of the U.S. health-care budget is consumed by five behavioural issues: to much smoking, drinking, eating, and stress; combined with not enough exercise.[2]
This resistance to change is part of our human condition, and why Paul is so passionate to defend and proclaim the gospel to the Galatians. He reminds them of what he first taught them: “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. (Gal 2:16)” Moreover, once justified in Christ, don’t ‘rebuild what has been torn down’. I love the expression, ‘A self-made man is an example of poor workmanship.’ I believe we all suffer from this tendency to entrust our development to our own efforts – just like the Galatians. Paul’s warning words are strong: if we determine to rely on the ‘works of the law’ we are cursed. We are cursed not because the law itself is a curse, but because when we choose to live under it, rather than by faith, we must abide by it completely and in our own strength.
Something to Praise: A Promise Secured
The call of Paul to live by faith is the call to see, understand, and believe that the faithful work of Christ justifies and keeps his people. The great promise to Abraham, the blessing of the nations, was secured once and for all by Jesus:
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:13,14)
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)”
If you are a Christian, your faith is not in a successful self-improvement project. God gives us his Spirit as a guarantee of his work in us, a work he promises to complete!
[1]https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-states-self-improvement-products-and-services-market-report-2019-examination-of-the-11-billion-industry-300938743.html
[2]https://www.fastcompany.com/52717/change-or-die