Self Preservation vs Surrender to God's Sovereign Will
The tension between self-preservation and surrender to God's sovereign will is a recurring theme in Christian thought, often framed as a call to self-denial and submission. Biblical texts frequently emphasize the importance of yielding to God's purposes, even when it involves personal cost. For instance, Jesus himself is presented as the ultimate example of this surrender, as seen in his prayer in Gethsemane, "Not my will, but yours be done" [1].
The concept of surrendering to God's will is deeply intertwined with the understanding of God's sovereignty. The Easton's Bible Dictionary defines "predestination" as God's eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree that governs all events, though it acknowledges the difficulties and "secret things" associated with this doctrine [3]. This divine sovereignty implies that God's will is ultimate and should be submitted to. The Torrey's Topical Textbook lists numerous instances where resignation to God's will is commanded or exemplified, including submission to God's sovereignty in his purposes (Romans 9:20-21), the prospect of death (Acts 21:13), and the loss of goods or children (Job 1:21) [1].
However, this surrender does not necessarily negate all forms of self-preservation. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Nehemiah 4:9, notes that "the strongest confidence in the protection and favor of God does not preclude the use of all or any of the means of self-preservation and defense which his providence has put in our power" [5]. He suggests that while God works in us, we are still to act through the power He has given us. This indicates a nuanced view where human agency and divine sovereignty coexist.
The call to self-denial is a significant aspect of surrendering to God. Jesus taught that "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" [4]. This principle, as noted by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, is a "law of self-renunciation" that Jesus himself exemplified [4]. The Torrey's Topical Textbook further elaborates on self-denial as a test of devotion to Christ, necessary for following Him, and crucial in the spiritual warfare of saints [2]. This includes denying ungodliness, worldly lusts, and controlling appetites [2].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 12:25: He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal--(See on Luk 9:24). Did our Lord mean to exclude Himself from the operation of the great principle here expressed--self-renunciation, the law of self-preservation; and its converse, self-preservation, the law of self-destruction? On the contrary, as He became Man to exemplify this fundamental law of the Kingdom of God in its most sublime form, so the very utterance of it on this occasion served to sustain His own Spirit in the double prospect”
- Nehemiah (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Nehemiah 4:9: We made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch - The strongest confidence in the protection and favor of God does not preclude the use of all or any of the means of self-preservation and defense which his providence has put in our power. While God works in us to will and to do, we should proceed to willing, through the power he has given us to will; and we should proceed to action, through the power he has given us to act. We cannot will, but through God's power; we cannot act, but through God's strength. The power, and the use of it, are two distinct things. We ”