When I was young I read many self-improvement books at the bookstore. I would always run to the section of the book store to find the latest self-help books that can help me improve myself. I personally have read books such as “Think and Grow Rich”, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” and “Law of Attraction” to name a few.
I grew up believing “the Secret” even and went to sign up for seminars and workshops in hopes to learn “the Secret” to success in life!
Most concepts of such self-improvement books would give you the idea that in order to attract positive success, you have to be positive yourself in your mind and thinking. So things like goal settings, and speaking things to existence for material things were some key practices and ideas from these books.
Most self-improvement focuses a lot on money and wealth as the main key factor of success which will encourage anyone who believes in this will be greedy eventually.
And millions of people around the world love money and will tempt anyone who loves money to go deep into these teachings.
The bible on the other hand opposes the proud and greed! Even Jesus himself tells us to be on guard about greed.
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” – Luke 12:15
The BIG PROBLEMS with Self-Improvement Books
If you have not noticed it yet, mostly all these self-help books do not teach you about good ethics or morals. And what makes it worst, some books even encourage you to do whatever it takes and sin and lie to make it in the real world! Lying is a sin and an abomination to the LORD
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. – Proverb 12:22
Self-help books will also encourage you not to care about others and encourage you to overpower others as much as you can in ability and strength to succeed in life. Basically encouraging you to be selfish!
Self-Improvement Books Will You Think You Are God!
I know this too well because I was a hard-core believer in self-improvement books and authors that I will believe anything and everything to make money and get wealth.
I allow wealth and money to overwhelm myself that I did not realize I allow satan to control me through my greed for money! And satan will tempt you just like how he tried to tempt Jesus
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Mathew 4:8-11
satan tried to tempt Jesus to worship him by promising him the world and splendor. It’s the same thing that these self-improvement books teach all the time as well.
They will go to the extreme of even asking you to pray to the universe for your goals and material things you want and claim them for yourself. But what you do not realize you are doing is you are actually praying to an idol of money and greed which is what satan wants.
Notice Jesus’ response to this type of greed is to ask them to leave and remind us as Christian to only worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.
However, even Christians do not want to serve God but instead enjoy serving themselves with money and riches which is sad.
I would like to encourage you today if you are into self-improvement or goals or achievements that you will reconsider and pray is there really from God or satan?