So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is head over every ruler and authority- Colossians 2:10 (NLT)

This week, I have been meditating on Christ’s sufficiency and what it means to live fully committed to it. If you have a pulse, you understand how easy it is for the world to creep in slowly. The subtle shift happens with the noise of the world, distractions of life, and personal trials. The focus on Jesus moves to the background, allowing the cares and worries to dominate thoughts and actions. Here is where I found myself; no longer was the emphasis on the sufficiency of Christ but instead on finding solutions and tripping over the mistakes that got me into the problems. By God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s prompting, the realization of what was occurring came into full view. 

Meaning of Sufficiency

Merriam-Webster defines sufficiency as the means to meet one’s needs. 

In simpler terms, sufficiency means enough. As part of the human race, lack is part of our DNA. Even the smartest, prettiest, wealthiest, etc. will question their value. Inevitably, that question spurns on the need for more. To be more, to do more, and to seek more. 

Reportedly, Steve Jobs, visionary and pioneer of the computer era, as his impending death loomed uttered the following profound words-

“At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.”

In other words, if he truly stated those words, then Mr. Jobs discovered that all that success, his illustrious career, and wealth amounted to nothing. It didn’t complete him as much as he thought it would. 

Jesus is Enough

Lately, I’ve become fascinated with off-grid living. I’ve spent endless hours watching YouTube videos, scrolling the net, and reading articles about the how’s, whys, and what’s involved in this intentional lifestyle. One of the tenets expressed by those who have pursued this passion is self-sufficiency and self-sustainability. The concept of relying on no outside support to assist in living a wholesome life is the attraction. 

For a believer, reliance on self for sufficiency or sustainability is a bad idea. The Bible addresses how our hearts are deceptive (Jeremiah 17:9) and how we all have fallen short (Romans 3:23); it is not what enters a man that defiles but what comes out of a man (Matthew 15:11). Another verse that plainly states our status of sufficiency or competency is in 2 Corinthians 3:5-

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God (NIV)

Another translation substitutes competent for adequate. Since we are not capable or adequate, we lack the sufficiency to live out this life in wholeness or fullness. The truth lies that no matter how much effort, attention, or passion we apply to live out a powerful, complete, satisfying Christian walk, we will always be found wanting. We need Jesus to help us navigate the complexities of life and heart. This message must be counterintuitive to our culture and sometimes what some Christian leaders preach. Reliance on Jesus, at times, has been deemed as a passive action. 

Christ’s finished work on the cross enables believers to be complete, full, sufficient, and sustainable throughout the journey. I confidently state, “I am complete not in me, but in Him.” At times, doubt creeps in and may cause us to question if there is complete sufficiency in Christ. Looking back at a particular season, I lived from a place of doubting whether I was whole in Christ. Since my thought life entertained that perception, it was inevitable that my behavior followed suit. A perfect example of belief preceding behavior, so if you think you aren’t complete in Christ, your lifestyle will reflect that. 

Recently, I heard a popular pastor speak about Jesus as an accessory. His exact word was “an enhancement,” which saddened me. To minimize what Jesus did on the cross as a mere addition to make me look good devalues the high price he paid. The truth is we are all lost, all broken, all sinners in need of being rescued from the world and ourselves; Jesus stepped in as a substitution. In his wholeness and completeness, his salvation offers me the grace and fullness I so desperately need and do not deserve. 

The church of Colossae was experiencing the same argument that we face today. The prevailing voices made the church think they must do different things to live their Christian walk. The same holds today! Some have a hard time believing in the simplicity of the Christian faith and are convinced that Christ can only be a part of it. However, Christ is the whole for those who have grasped this foundational truth. Apart from Him, we have nothing and are nothing. What a relief to know that we don’t have to go it alone; we don’t have to know all the answers. 

There is no need to look outwardly for what Jesus provides inwardly. So, how do I live out a life of sufficiency in Christ? One of the best scriptures that sums up the answer is in Proverbs 3:5-6-

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. (NLT) 

As I mentioned earlier, while walking through my dark season, which seemed to last for an eternity, the pain in my heart drove me further from the cross instead of toward it. It was not my finest hour, and feeling distant, I didn’t feel whole, far from it. I perched my heart’s tent in the land of self-sufficiency and faced helplessness and hopelessness for a long time. The absolute truth is that the more we lean into ourselves and work toward independence from God, the more we will experience the opposite of our expected outcome. Upon looking at the hard truth and becoming aware of the error of my way, repentance was my first step. Shifting the focus off of me and to its rightful place, Christ Jesus, my savior and all-sufficient One, is when the light at the end of the tunnel appeared.

So, dear friend, I pray you recognize that your completeness can only come from Him. If you find yourself lacking, helpless, or hopeless, take a pause. Ask yourself, am I relying on myself, or is Jesus my source of sufficiency? If you answer yourself, repent and trust God to lead you on the right path. 

Leave a comment and share with a friend if this has helped you. 

XO,

Katherine