Dependence is the state of relying or being controlled by someone else with full trust or confidence; it is also reliance on someone for financial support. Dependence is the disposition of a child to a parent. The more helpless a child is, the more dependent they are for care, protection, support and guidance. Children are claimed on US taxes as ‘dependents’ because their parents are responsible for their well being while they are in the home. As children grow, they experience more and more independence or self-governance. America declared it’s independence from England through a revolt, war and legislation. Christ followers must keep in mind that in the Kingdom of God, we as the Father’s children, make a declaration of DEPENDENCE on Him! He is the One on whom we rely, whose guidance controls our actions and in whom we trust for our financial support. God is after your dependence on Him!
It is hard to admit that we would really prefer to handle things ourselves: to know all the answers, to be invincible, immortal and never vulnerable. We’d like to think that our much speaking, posting, protesting, or the security measures we take, and the money we have in the bank will preserve us from any trouble. Deep down, we know we are ultimately dependent on God’s mercy, grace, sovereignty and timing, and that can be either really scary or really comforting. In his time of crisis, Paul clung to his unreliability and his need for God. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) God is after our dependence on Him.