In His Own Eyes

Everyone is born with unbelievable potential. It doesn't matter whether a person is born in a poor or wealthy family. We all possess a great potential to be an effective voice and impetus for change for the good of all humanity.

Unfortunately, it is our weaknesses and lack of proper motivation that keeps us from reaching our full potential. Sure, we can add a lack of humility to the equation, along with becoming sidetracked by the enticing cares the world offers us. Many times we find our motivations are misdirected. Our actions are focused on ourself more so on that of others.

Thomas Edison

The historical record reveals many men and women who made considerable effort to reach their full potential but always fell short. One of these was the prolific inventor, Thomas Edison. He is credited with over 1,000 inventions. Think about his immense contribution to the world. Aside from the light bulb and the phonograph, Edison is credited with having invented the first movie camera and first movie studio.

Can you imagine lugging this thing around? Maybe two people toted this thing to and fro: the cameraman and his chiropractor. You would have been required to be pretty crazy strong.

Obviously Edison was a veritable workhorse. He worked an average of 18 hours a day. But he had his weaknesses just like all of us. Those who knew him said Edison lacked charm and was known for his gruff manner, and as a consequence he only had a few close friends. He simply didn't like being around people. He did what most of us do, whatever was right in his own eyes.

Samson

Before the judges of Israel became the order and rule of the day, we read about the state of life in ancient Israel. "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25, ESV).

This verse pretty much describes modern societies, despite the fact that we do have plenty of kings and leaders.

Samson was a man who was endowed with supernatural strength. He was one of the judges in Israel and was born between 1045 B.C. and 1000 B.C. And though he was one of the few characters set apart for the purpose of God to deliver Israel from its enemies, Samson blatantly ignored his Nazarite vow of devotion to God and instead relied solely upon his own strength and abilities rather than rely on God’s will for his life.

And his weakness? It was basically two things: his proclivity to always exercise his right to get even when things didn't go his way, and his lustful appetite for the ladies.

Ring any bells? We can also exchange ladies for men in a modern example. Sadly, it is the mindset of our world today.

Revenge!

Samson was tricked and humiliated by his wife when he posed a riddle to the Philistines (Judges 14). She conned him into giving her the answer, and then told her people. When Samson figured out what had happened he became enraged and and exacted revenge.

"Then Samson said, 'With a donkey’s jawbone I have made donkeys of them. With a donkey’s jawbone I have killed a thousand men'" (Judges 15:16, NIV).

Probably not the dude you'd want at your birthday party. Samson's lust for women was his downfall. He was also tricked by Delilah into revealing his strength (his long hair). While sleeping, his hair was cut, and then weak, they gouged out his eyes and tossed him in prison.

But the Bible tells us that Samson was spiritually blind before his eyes were viciously ripped from his head. But he finally came to his senses and returned to God in faith (Judges 16:28-30).

Samson’s strength eventually returned when his hair grew back in prison. He never reached his full potential in delivering Israel from the Philistines. But he did die when he destroyed the temple of the Philistine god Dagon, taking thousands of Philistines with him (Judges 16:1-31). The writer of Hebrews even mentions Samson in the faith hall of fame (Hebrews 11;32).

Doing what is right

Samson was both strong but weak in character when he relied on himself rather than God's strength. He did what was right in his own eyes. God is able to use both the unbeliever and the believer to accomplish His will.

How about us? How often do we stray from God's will and do what is right in our own eyes? What motivates us to do the things we do? Self? Vain glory? Pride? Stubbornness? Lust of the flesh? These are all sins.

We need to do God's will, which is to pursue holiness and do God's works. Let's let go of doing what is right in our own eyes and the eyes of the world, and instead do what is right in God's eyes by humbling ourselves.