In this scripture, we see a story about a person that wanted to do what they wanted to do. They had a life that was okay but they thought they could find better somewhere else. So they left their comfort and spent all they had only to find out that he was wrong. Broken, alone, and had nothing to show for anything, at the bottom and the end of their rope. Self is the problem that pride enjoys using. Sin has pleasure but it’s very short-lived and very soon the flesh will want more of something else to replace it.
In our time we can see and hear all kinds of so-called preachers teaching about doing something to get something for yourself. The prosperity gospel is not biblical it goes against what God said altogether. We are to do things but not for our earthly home but to God to lay up things in Heaven. Self is the problem and it’s always been that way. It will not profit one to give to the flesh.
It’s a shame that God has to chasten as He does because we are unwilling to obey God. Get to the end of yourself. If God is not in it then it’s a waste and you’ve got a problem. This is not someone else’s problem, it’s yours, a personal one. God can deal with self. One should focus more on changing self than others. We can sit and certainly judge others but most times we are the ones that have the problem.
In one scripture we read about Jacob and him having to come to the end of his rope. He had seen things that no one else had and yet he wanted to do what he wanted to do. God sent an angel and Jacob fought with this angel. The angel had much more strength than Jacob and yet he didn’t do any harm to Jacob. God held back the angel's strength until Jacob had come to himself. Then the angel simply touched Jacob's thigh and the fighting stopped. At this point, Jacob knew what he needed more and wouldn’t let go of the angel until he was blessed by God. IN the end, God blessed him, spared his family, even though he lived the rest of his life with a limp. He had to come to himself, crucify his flesh before he realized that all he needed what God.
The Bible is full of self accounts. Abraham was about to end his son's life. We know that he had come at the end of himself. Yet God provided. The woman with the issue of blood had spent everything and had come to the end of her life, self. Yet she pushed thru to Jesus because she had come to the end of herself. God provided! Getting to the end of oneself is a process that goes on and on. Just when you think you’ve got yourself pushed down, it shows up yet again. Your biggest problem is yourself. We don’t fight against flesh and blood. This is both neighbor and self. The three Hebrew children were literally at the end of their rope, and yet regardless they didn’t stop and the fire of that furnace didn’t burn them. Daniel was at the end of himself yet the lions didn’t prevail.
Why can’t you amen the Word of God when it’s spoken? Why can’t you lift your hands in praise to God? Why can’t you work for God? Why can’t you fast? Why can’t you pray as you should? Witness to the lost? Why can’t you attend church as you should?
The answer is simple, SELF!