The Idol of Control | The Gospels | John 10:22–40
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome to 10-Minute Bible Talks, where we connect the Bible to your life in the time it takes to get to work. I'm Tanya Wilmoth.
Why do we crave control and how does it shape our daily behavior?
Many of us struggle with not knowing the future. We crave the comfort that comes from well-laid plans and routine, and we exert control over our time and our people wherever we can. We predict and plan for best and worst case scenarios and live out our imaginations what could happen or what we think will happen before it even comes to fruition. The desire to look ahead is natural. In fact, Paul prays that God will open the eyes and minds of his readers to what God has in store for them. In Ephesians 1.18, Paul says, I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you. This enlightenment isn't based on what we can control, but on what we gain when we lose control.
How does Paul’s prayer in Ephesians reframe our desire for certainty?
Because our hope rests on the work of Jesus, our future is secure and unchanging. It's a future assurance we receive simply by belonging to him. In other words, Paul is praying that we will live out our future assurance now. That means not doing certain things now, not pre-living circumstances in dread, not manipulating people to control their actions, not praising your kids for being people pleasers. These are ways of exerting control over the future that set us up for disappointment and heartbreak. The situation you dread will not get any easier if you play it out in your mind. You will only make it more dreadful by dwelling on the bad parts of it. The people you manipulate will not feel close and connected to you.
What are common ways the idol of control shows up in relationships and parenting?
The kids who want to please you will grow bitter towards your self-righteousness when they realize you can't even live up to your own standards. Many of us can recognize the idol of control shaping our behavior, our thoughts, and interactions. When we're driven by this need to manage our future outcomes, it affects what we plan, what we say, how we behave, and how we relate to others. We may micromanage situations to avoid uncertainty or grip tightly to people for fear of things falling apart. We may avoid action altogether because we can't guarantee the results. This pursuit can be paralyzing. It causes us to second guess ourselves and slowly lose sight of who we are.
How do Jesus’s 'I am' statements in John 10 set up his promises to the sheep?
We risk abandoning our God-given gifts and our image in the process of trying to hold everything together on our own. If any of this resonates with you, I believe you'll appreciate the words of Jesus, our good shepherd, in John chapter 10, verses 25 to 30. This passage follows two important I am statements. Jesus uses the word picture of a gatekeeper who opens the pen for the sheep who know his voice in John 10, 7. Truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before him and anyone who comes after are thieves and robbers, but he has come so that we may have life and have it in abundance. Jesus also says, Now when the Pharisees heard these parables, they were confused, and they accused Jesus of being possessed by a demon.
It was easier to blame Jesus for their doubt than it was to wrestle with it. So Jesus answered,
What does it mean that 'my sheep hear my voice' and how should we respond to conviction?
No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. What if we wrestled with those words instead of letting doubt lead us into anxiety about the future? What if we held fast to these promises as our sense of security instead of living in doubt? Let's examine these promises that Jesus made about his sheep. He said, My sheep hear my voice. Did you know conviction can be a good thing? If you feel convicted, it means that at some level, you're aware the Holy Spirit is telling you something that interferes with your own will. Instead of being completely won over by your own voice, you're still sensitive in that area to the voice of your good shepherd. So what should you do when you're convicted? Take notice and ask God to help you respond in a way that's consistent with his word, even if it's not consistent with what you want to do.
If you're Jesus' promises about being with you in the present and guarding your future mean you can do things that are uncomfortable right now.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:05–0:13
2
Why do we crave control and how does it shape our daily behavior?
0:13–0:56
3
How does Paul’s prayer in Ephesians reframe our desire for certainty?
0:56–1:41
4
What are common ways the idol of control shows up in relationships and parenting?
1:41–2:21
5
How do Jesus’s 'I am' statements in John 10 set up his promises to the sheep?
2:21–3:26
6
What does it mean that 'my sheep hear my voice' and how should we respond to conviction?
3:26–4:55
7
How does Jesus’ promise of eternal life change our perspective on sin and temporal worries?
4:55–5:43
8
What practical steps help us trade the idol of control for trust in Christ’s promises?
5:43–9:20
Speakers
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