Our BSF lecture last week insinuated there was something wrong with self-help books. I immediately bristled.
As some of you know, I’m working on myself, trying to grow and fix some of “me”, smooth out the rough edges and I have chosen to do this through God’s word, prayer, and books. Most of these books are self-help books.
The argument was made, “People look to themselves rather than God when they read these books.” I think this is a valid argument if you do indeed rely on self-help books only instead of God.
But self-help books combined with God is a powerful tool. I read books and I get ah-ha moments.
God speaks through people. People write books (like myself). And I believe God helps me write and He uses me to convey His message. So why wouldn’t He help others? Why wouldn’t God give us the gift of books through others to know Him better? It sounds a lot like what the Bible is, doesn’t it? Others words inspired by God and a chronicle of Jesus’s life–words written down so we can know Him.
Most of the books I read have God as a critical component in it. It’s psychological advice accompanied by a strong message of faith and prayer. It’s powerful. It gives you ideas you normally wouldn’t see (I haven’t studied psychology) so you can become more like Jesus.
I believe God knows just what to put in my hands at just the right time. Besides His word, books that teach life lessons that you can apply are powerful. They challenge me to think, to analyze, to delve into my past, to see things through others’ eyes, to see me through others’ eyes. They tell me things people would never tell me.
I agree self-reliance can lead to a powerful fall. But I see nothing wrong with the desire to improve yourself and looking at other places in addition to the Bible and prayer.
Your thoughts?