10 Ways We Try to Take God's Place: Part 1 - Set Standards for Others

10 Ways We Get in Our Own Way: Part 1-Set Standards for Others

If you are the greatest obstacle to your success, you need to get out of your own way. The problem is that you were not designed to run your own life. To get out of your way you need to first understand what you do to get in your way.

As Christians we believe the struggle started in the Garden of Eden. However, even if you’re not a Christian you probably struggle with the lie that being in control is the safest and best way to live, and you try to “play God.”

We see God’s power, we understand his control, and we decide that we want that.  We somehow miss God’s character completely and therefore we become rebellious.  We place ourselves at the center of our universe and begin the road to dis-integration with others.  We become self-focused and life falls apart.

Now, whether you believe the Bible or not, you can see that somewhere, we have been convinced that if we can just have enough power and control, we can make life great. But do you know anyone for whom that has worked? The more we fight for control, the less we have it, and the more fearful and hurt we become, and the more we hurt others. Instead we need to get out of our own way. Anytime we try to play God, we mess it up.

Set standards for others

The first way we try to play God is by setting standards for others.  For whatever reason, we believe it is ok to decide how others should act.  This mistake is most clearly seen when people seem to act as if the world revolves around their agenda.  However, this first issue can seep its way into so many parts of our lives.  Perhaps it most often rears its head in places where we seem justified.

As a father, is it not my job to set standards for my children? Right? Wrong.

While it may be God’s ordained role for me to be the head of my home, I am to lead my children based on His expectations.  It is not my job to decide what is right and wrong for my children, but to seek God’s word and His will as to what He desires for them.  These standards are then God’s decision and in the interest of my children.

This particular sin is also hard to combat in the United States, where we expect to be protected as individuals.  Our society has so raised the rights of individuals that we have come to believe that all our own desires and needs are more important than those of God.  This means that I decide what is best for me and you, and you should understand that is true.  The problem is that you also believe that you should decide what is best for you and me.  Thus, this sin leads the list.

When we set standards for others, we are playing God.