DIY - Do It Yourself
DIY is an acronym for doing something yourself as opposed to paying contractors and mechanics to do the work you want done. For years people hired carpenters, bricklayers, tile-setters, plumbers and all other crafts to do the jobs of repair and home improvement that they needed.
With the economy getting tight, and not much extra money available, rather than pay a huge labor bill, many people are learning how to do their projects on their own. There is even a cable network channel with all kinds of projects being shown.
The introduction of the large home-improvement stores helped people realize that they could do the work that professionals do themselves. Many of these stores would have classes on the various projects. And with the proper instruction or guide, people found they could do these projects, saving the cost of paying a professional. The stores profited because the people would by the products from them, and usually bought the instructional books or videos as well.
Some people do this out of necessity. I once had a water pump go out on my car, and I really could not pay the mechanic to fix the car. So I went to the library and got a book about auto repair, and I did the job myself. Despite the fact that I had a few bolts left over, the car ran as it was supposed to do. I was very proud of myself, because I had not received any formal training in auto repair. I bragged about fixing the car myself for weeks. I am sure we all have boasted about something we did ourselves.
Yet, while we are proud of our accomplishments, we also will accept unquality workmanship from time to time. As long as the project looks good by our standards, we will brag that we did it ourselves.
We probably would not accept unquality work from a contractor. However, we tell ourselves that we are not a mechanic, carpenter, bricklayer and it becomes okay that maybe the wall is crooked, or something in the engine makes a noise.
With the right instruction and guidelines, just about anybody can do a project if they want to. There is the key. They must want to do it. They must be willing to work at it, and they hope to finish the project in such a way as they will receive compliments for their work.
This idea of doing it yourself has drifted into our spiritual lives. We do these projects on our own, and learn to rely upon ourselves, rather than accept help from others. Many people consider that they can control their own spiritual destiny on their own with no help from others, including God.
The book of Ecclesiastes teaches that mans labors are good, but to try them without God's assistance is vanity. Too many people have given God a mandate to stay out of their lives. But they expect God to welcome them into heaven when their lives are over. That won't work.
Paul wrote to the Philippians to "work out your own salvation with meekness and fear" (Philippians 2:12).
In a way, our salvation is a do it yourself project. And just like the projects we learn about at the home improvement stores, we learn about salvation from a guide and sometimes a live demonstration. The Bible is the guide with all of the instructions necessary to help us get our salvation. Like the video's, we can watch faithful Christians in their lives, and learn patterns that will help us live our lives faithful to God.
Paul gave instructions in Titus (2:1-8) that all Christians had a responsibility to teach those younger and less experienced. The seasoned Christian is to help the novice. Men and women were to teach younger men and women their respective responsibilities not only in this life, but in their spiritual life as well.
Sadly, many people take this do it yourself attitude without using guides or instructions. People think they are spiritual without following the guidelines of the Bible. Of course, trying to live without God is vanity.
All the Bible (scriptures) is inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16). That means that God gave the writers everything in it. It is all sufficient. It is complete. It has everything we need concerning eternal life and salvation. It is the law of God for us to follow and do. We do this ourselves, but when we follow God's instructions and live according to His precepts, we are working salvation unto ourselves. We can not do this on our own without God. That will not work.
Learn what the Bible teaches you concerning salvation. Do not trust yourself, but trust in God, and follow His guidelines. That way, you can be assured of your salvation. Seek the Lord with your whole heart, and live in reverential fear before God, and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13) because this is your duty. On judgment day, when we stand before God, we will answer whether we did it ourselves, or if we did it God's way.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight"
Serve the Lord and it will go well with you. Keep His commandments, and live by them. Obey the voice of the Lord, and you will see heaven in its glory.
By Carey Scott 5/25/2011

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