[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Three categories of dependence

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-31

Meditation verse:

“And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you’ (1 Corinthians 12:21).

There are three main categories of dependence, which is differentiated by the way we choose to relate with other people.

Absolute Dependence: This is when you are totally dependent on a person. Absolute dependence says “I cannot function on my own. I need you to be okay, I am not okay on my own”. People in this category usually struggle with issues of self-esteem, confidence, or self-identity. Only little children are expected to display this kind of dependence.

The second category is absolute independence: People in this category believe that they are okay by themselves and feel no need to connect to others. This people often suffer from one personality disorder or the other.

The third category is Interdependence: People in this category are okay by themselves but choose to include others in their lives because they believe in mutually beneficial relationships. This is the life that God designed for us to live.

Proverbs 27:17 says “as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Life was not meant to be lived in isolation. The book of Judges 18 tells the story of the people of Laish who were secure in themselves and lived a quiet life devoid of any ties with other nations. When the people of Dan were seeking for an inheritance for themselves, they searched and found the city of Laish a suitable target. “So, they came and struck them with the sword” (Judges 18:27).

No matter how fully equipped you believe you are, you still need other people. No one is entire and complete on their own.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

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