Page 37 - Biblical Counseling I Textbook

• Our conception gives birth to the act.
• The act brings consequences.
• We do not like the consequences and blame God and others.

Why does God leave believers vulnerable to temptation?
• He wants to keep you humble and low in your own eyes.
• He wants you to continue in dependence upon His grace and to fight with the helps He provides.

• He wants you to learn to abide in Him and to live by His power alone.
• He wants to wean you from the things of this earth and to make you long for Himself.
• He wants you to learn empathy and compassion for fellow sinners.
• He wants you to learn what it means to live in a state of grace while anticipating a state of glory.

Understanding human motivation
What motivates our flesh? In the flesh, people’s ultimate desires are self-oriented (Gal. 5:17).
• Self-pleasure (Rom. 15:1; Titus 3:3; Jam. 4:1-3). Note Galatians 5:17 “…so that you may not do
whatever you desire.”
• Self-importance (Luke 9:46; John 3:26; Rom. 12:3).
• Self-preservation (Matt. 6:25; Luke 12:24).
• Self-justification (Job 40:8; Gal. 5:4).
• Self-righteousness (Luke 18:11-12; Rom. 10:3).

• Self-exaltation (Exod. 9:15; Isa 2:12; Dan. 4:30; Jam. 4:10).

Self-centeredness is the motivation for idol worship (Jer. 44:15-19; Jam. 4:1-4).
Idols are not worshipped for their own sake. They are worshipped as a means to an end. The Greek’s did not
worship Athena (the goddess of war) because of her radiance and glory. They worshipped her because they
wanted to win wars.

Our idols are set up in our hearts (Deut. 30:17; Ezek. 14:3-5).
The true idols we worship are not material realities like statues or trees or stars. The true idol is the desire
behind these things. A mother can make her child an idol by making the child the source of her happiness. A
man can make his position in the church an idol by making that position the foundation of his identity. When a
man finds his sense of significance or purpose in his position, he is idolizing his position.

It has been said that idolatry is making good things into god things. Since this is so, we all are prone to idolatry.
This is why John Calvin could write, “Every one of us is, even from his mother’s womb, a master craftsman of
idols.” Understanding that each of us is prone to setting up idols in our hearts is crucial to the work of
counseling.

What motivates our “inner man”?
• Godly fear motivates believers (Prov. 1:7; Eph. 5:21).
• Fear must not be used as a rod to beat people into submission (cf. 1 John 4:18).
• Gospel truths motivate believers (2 Cor. 5:14; Eph. 4:32, etc.).

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