The Sufficiency of God's Word
Problems experienced today for which people seek the help of professional psychologists are not new. The Bible is all about those who victoriously endured rejection, hatred, misunderstanding, jealousy, persecution, uncertainty and every other trial one could imagine, including martyrdom.
Consider Joseph. His jealous brothers hated and sold him into Egypt. There, falsely accused of rape, he languished in prison. Did he (or any other heroes and heroines of the faith) suffer for lack of psychological counseling, which is considered essential today? Obviously not!
What a contrast between the triumphant saints of old,..... and today's struggling and self-centered victims of months or years of psychological counseling!
Paul testified,
"...in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?" (2 Cor 11:22-29)
Who today endures such trials? Why turn for help to that which for Paul was unnecessary?
From prison he wrote, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content....I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me....my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:11-13,19).
That same triumph can be ours today.
Problems experienced today for which people seek the help of professional psychologists are not new. The Bible is all about those who victoriously endured rejection, hatred, misunderstanding, jealousy, persecution, uncertainty and every other trial one could imagine, including martyrdom.
Consider Joseph. His jealous brothers hated and sold him into Egypt. There, falsely accused of rape, he languished in prison. Did he (or any other heroes and heroines of the faith) suffer for lack of psychological counseling, which is considered essential today? Obviously not!
What a contrast between the triumphant saints of old,..... and today's struggling and self-centered victims of months or years of psychological counseling!
Paul testified,
"...in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?" (2 Cor 11:22-29)
Who today endures such trials? Why turn for help to that which for Paul was unnecessary?
From prison he wrote, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content....I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me....my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:11-13,19).
That same triumph can be ours today.
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