What Does the Bible Say About Self-Striving?

Self-striving is about our human effort to make something happen or to become who we should be. Sometimes it stems from comparing ourselves to others and finding ourselves to be inferior. Our insecurities may drive us to self-striving to try to measure up rather than find our significance in the Lord. Whatever the cause, we’re basically over-estimating our own abilities to change or make things happen and under-estimating God’s ability. And so, self-striving equals self-reliance.

The Bible Warns Against Self-Striving

God makes it clear that no amount of striving will save us.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

He also exhorts, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col. 2:6-7). We continue to live by grace, which in essence, is God doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves. — “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6)

Scripture also describes self-striving in our day-to-day physical lives as meaningless. It just leads to anxiety and stress.

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Ps. 127:1-2)

What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.(Eccl. 2:22-23)

Scripture Exhorts Us to Cease Striving

God said, “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10, NASB).

As we “behold the works of the Lord” and acknowledge that “the Lord Almighty is with us” (Ps. 46:7-8), we realize that we have an “ever-present help” (Ps. 46:1). We don’t have to rely on ourselves when the One of whom there is none greater is with us. No one can truly fathom His greatness and understanding (Ps. 145:3; Isa. 40:28). That’s what makes Him God. It only makes sense to heed the instruction in Proverbs 3:5-6 to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him”.

The Hebrew word for “cease striving”, according to Strong’s concordance, suggests that we sink down or relax. When we sink down into God’s sovereignty as the Lord Almighty, we can relax knowing He’s in control and that He is fully capable to take care of all that pertains to us. When we rely on the Almighty God rather than our own strength, we find peace (Phil. 4:6-7) and contentment (Phil. 4:11-13)

While we do find places in Scripture that seem to suggest we strive for certain things, it’s still not self-striving but rather God working in and through us. We must interpret Scripture with Scripture.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Phil. 2:12-13)

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Col. 1:29)

Rather Than Strive, Do This

Do you want to change and get better? Do you want to do what really matters? — Cease striving. Know that He is God.

Here’s the starting point: Trust God instead of worrying. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:25-34)  As you do, pull on His power. It isn’t necessary to strive when the Almighty God is with us. Pull on His power by …

• walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-26),
• relying on His grace (Titus 2:11-12),
• abiding in Christ (Jn. 15:4-5),
• and finding your strength in the Lord (Phil. 4:13; Isa. 40:31).

For more on various means through which He empowers us, go to: The Source of the Church’s Power