Self-Made
Nathan Hall
Midland SDA Church
January 18, 2020
The Self-Made Man
Henry Ford, the man behind Ford Motor Company, was born in Dearborn, Michigan in 1863. His parents were farmers. However, he was more interested in figuring out how machines work, than in farming. At a very young age, he was given a watch and he immediately took it apart so he could see how it worked. And, he eventually taught himself how to fix watches. He was only 16 when he left the farm to pursue his passions. The first job he got was as an apprentice for the Michigan Car Company, a manufacturer of railroad cars, in Detroit. He took similar jobs over the next several years, often leaving when he thought he could learn more from somewhere else. By age 25, he had married his wife, Clara Bryant, and three years later they moved back to Detroit where he started working for the Edison Electric Illuminating Company. He did not know much about electricity. However, he was a quick learner, and within 5 years he had become the chief engineer.
During this time, people across the country were working to build their own horseless carriages. With the help of some friends, he built his first, called the quadricycle. It was a very basic machine that was steered with a tiller like a boat. He built a second one in 1898 and convinced a group of investors to support him in a business that made and sold horseless carriages. Unfortunately, he knew nothing of running a business, and due to that fact, his first and second businesses failed. To raise more funds, he began building and driving race cars. The success of his race cars attracted more investors and allowed him to start his third business in 1903, called the Ford Motor Company. This time he decided to surround himself with a small group of highly talented people who were also passionate about achieving his goal. His ability to attract outside talent made his business successful. The company’s first car was the Model A. In 1907, the Model N became the best-selling car in America and sold at the price of $600. However, the average wage in 1907 was between $200-$400 per year, which meant that most people in America could not afford to buy a car. Ford wasn’t satisfied because he wanted to make cars more affordable.
In 1908, he introduced the Model T. The Model T was a huge success and he was selling them faster than he could make them. To fix this problem, he moved the company to a larger facility in Highland Park, Michigan. Still driven by the desire to make cars more affordable, he began focusing on reducing costs and at the same time increasing production. He and his team borrowed concepts from various other industries and developed an assembly line for making automobiles. Unfortunately, the workers did not like the repetitive work and the turnover was so high he had to hire 53,000 people a year to keep 14,000 jobs filled. In 1914, he decided to double his workers’ wages to $5 per hour which was a huge risk, but that decision helped to stabilize his workforce and allowed his workers to now purchase the vehicles they were making. In 1919, he was tired of dealing with stockholders and he decided to buy them all out. He was the sole owner of the world’s largest automobile company. But all this power did not bring wisdom with it. His successes had convinced him that his ideas were the better than those of whom he worked with.
By 1922, half the cars on the road were Model Ts and you could get one for as low as $269. Because of the popularity of the Model T, he thought it was what most people wanted and ignored the growing popularity of more expensive and stylish cars like the Chevrolet. He did not listen to his son or others telling him it was time for a new model. Due to his decisions, sales continued to drop. In 1927, after years of declining sales, he finally shut down the Model T and designed a new car. The total time, from the beginning of Model T production, to the final shutdown spanned 19 years and Ford Motor Company had sold 15.5 million Model Ts worldwide. Even though Henry Ford had continued to be innovative in his designs, his efforts did not slow the decline of the Ford Motor Company. By 1936, Ford was in third place in the US market behind GM and Chrysler.
The United Auto Workers Union tried to organize Ford during the Great Depression. He wanted no part of it and fought back with intimidation and violence. However, he was finally forced to sign a union contract in 1941. Shortly thereafter, Pearl Harbor was bombed, and Ford became one of the major suppliers for airplanes, tanks, jeeps and engines. His son died in 1943 and he eventually died in 1947 at age 83. Throughout his life, he worked hard and took risks. He had his good times and bad times, his successes and failures. And he lived his life by trial and error.
Some people may say that Henry Ford had a successful life and helped to shape America to where it is today through providing transportation to the masses and efficiencies in industry. Some say he was a “Self-Made Man”.
https://www.thehenryford.org/explore/stories-of-innovation/visionaries/henry-ford/
You’ve heard of this term, “Self-Made Man”, haven’t you? It usually refers to people who have attained wealth, power and fame through what appears to be no outside help. You’ve seen these lists in magazines and online. I am going to name a few of them and I want you to see if you recognize any of them (e.g. John D. Rockefeller, Sam Walton, Walt Disney). What about more contemporary names (e.g. Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett and Oprah Winfrey)? Of course, I chose some of the more famous people from Forbes list of world’s wealthiest people, but you are probably familiar with their names and most likely know a little bit about why they are famous.
Oh, to be a “Self-Made Man”! It is the classic rags-to-riches story of someone who comes from a low station in life, who, against all odds, breaks out of his inherited social position, climbs up the social ladder and creates a new identity for himself.
And what is it that makes these people “Self-Made”? Is it their wealth, power or fame? No! These people exhibited characteristics of being “Self-Made” long before they were rich and famous. So, if it’s not wealth, power or fame that make someone “Self-Made”, does that mean that you can have little money, little influence and be relatively unknown in the world and still be “Self-Made”?
Being “Self-Made” is a mentality, a way of living. In practical terms, you “go with your gut” and “trust your own instincts”. Through trial and error, you forge your way through life. You make your own plans for the future. When trials come, you try to fix them on your own through solutions that you can think of. When successes come, you get a prideful feeling that makes you feel like you are awesome and that somehow you are a better person than those around you who don’t seem to have it as good as you do. Ultimately, you want to be in control of your life because you think you know what’s best for yourself.
So, what fuels this desire in people to be “Self-Made”? Whether we like it or not, we live in the world. And whether we want to admit it or not, the world influences our thoughts, decisions and actions. Everywhere you look, someone is encouraging you to be independent or to do things on your own. A few years ago, the U.S. Army even played up this idea with its’ “Army of One” slogan. Libraries and bookstores are filled with self-help books. YouTube videos and TV shows focus on DIY projects. Be the hero. Be the star. Success is within you. This theme is repeated over and over in countless books and movies.
I would like to propose to you this morning, that living your life as a “Self-Made” man or woman is a spiritually dangerous place to be.
The idea of a “Self-Made” man is not a new concept. The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who suffered the ill-effects of making their own decisions rather than relying on God. Fortunately, there are just as many stories of those who reaped the blessings of trusting in God with every aspect of their lives. They recognized their weakness in the presence of the Creator and chose to depend on His wisdom and guidance.
Have you ever noticed how it seems like God prefers to put people in impossible situations to bring Himself honor and glory? Does it bring Him glory to use the biggest army to win a battle? No! Instead, He uses Gideon and 300 men with jars, lamps and horns to defeat thousands of Midianite soldiers. My favorite Bible story as a kid was the story of David and Goliath. I used to think it would’ve been cool if God had used Samson to defeat Goliath. Talk about an epic fight! But who would get the glory if Samson defeated Goliath? It would be Samson. Instead, God chose to use an ordinary guy with extraordinary faith to take Goliath down with a sling and a stone. When God does these things, we have no option but to recognize His hand in them.
There is another champion of faith that I would like you to consider this morning. His story can be found in Genesis chapters 37-50. Just like many “Self-Made” men, Joseph started out with nothing when he arrived in Egypt as a slave. Talk about having no advantages or outside help! He was in a foreign land. His father and younger brother thought he was dead. He was completely and utterly alone with nothing but his faith in God. He vowed that he was going to give glory to God in everything he did and that he would honor God with his decisions. Due to this commitment, it wasn’t too long before he was put in charge of Potiphar’s household. He flourished in that position for a while. But, then the episode with Potiphar’s wife happened and he was thrown in jail after being falsely accused. It was in prison that he experienced his greatest challenge as it was actually a step lower than slavery. Imagine knowing you were falsely accused and you were in prison with no hope of being released. The conditions of the prison were probably pretty bad as they weren’t as concerned with fair treatment of prisoners back then as they are now. But, in spite of all this, Joseph chose to keep his commitment to honor God in everything and he became a shining light for God in that dark prison. And just as he had been put in charge of Potiphar’s household, he won the trust and respect of the man in charge of the jail and was put in charge of the prisoners. Cue the butler and the baker and their well-known dreams. Joseph finally had a glimmer of hope that he might be able to get out of jail. But to his disappointment, the butler forgot all about him for two more years. It wasn’t until Pharaoh’s dream that Joseph finally had his way out of that situation. And just like with Potiphar and the Jailer, Pharaoh recognized the value of Joseph’s commitment to God and made him the Prime Minister over Egypt. Talk about rags to riches! However, there was never a moment when Joseph desired riches. His only desire was to honor God in his decisions and actions. Ellen White says in the book Patriarchs and Prophets, that “The marked prosperity which attended everything placed under Joseph’s care was not the result of a direct miracle; but his industry, care, and energy were crowned with the divine blessing (PP p. 214). God blessed Joseph’s efforts not only because he was a hard worker, but because he recognized his need for God and relied solely on Him. You could say Joseph was a “God-Made” man.
So, what is your natural reaction when a challenge or a trial comes your way? Do you take it to God or are you tempted to work out a plan for yourself? Are you a DIY-er? Or are you a God rely-er?
Now, I do not want you to raise your hands, but how many of you have made dumb decisions in your life? I’m sure every one of us in this room have done things in the past that show we are not always the sharpest tools in the shed. Every decision we make impacts the course of our lives in one way or another. Don’t you wish you could have the opportunity to make a better decision in those circumstances. Unfortunately, it is not possible to go back in time and do something over again. If we had been able to see the situation as an opportunity to ask the Lord for help, many of us would have experienced less heartache and hardship in our lives.
Why is it that, as Christians, we believe in God’s love and power but sometimes we struggle to trust Him with our trials and everyday decisions? Maybe it’s a control issue. You like to plan everything and you like how it feels when you are in control. Consequently, you are afraid of what things will look like if you let God be in control. Or maybe it’s a sin issue. You think you’ve messed up and sinned too much for Him to listen to your prayers and bless you. So, you get discouraged and don’t bring it to Him at all. Or maybe it’s a pride thing and don’t want to admit you need help. Asking for help is hard. It makes us feel like there is something about us that is weak or that we’re insufficient. We desire to be independent and to feel like we are able to do things on our own. But God did not design us to be independent creatures. He designed us to depend and rely on Him.
Whatever the issue may be, there is one thing I know for sure. Relying on God is an issue of faith and faith is not something that you can manufacture. You don’t just wake up one day and decide to have faith in God. Faith in God and the peace that comes from being able to trust Him comes with practice. Faith grows as a result of casting every care at His feet, especially the little things. Which do you think is easier to do, trust God with something big or something little? It is the consistent choice of trusting God with the little things that prepare us to trust Him with the big things.
Let’s take a look at some Bible verses that are relevant to our topic this morning. Our main scripture for the sermon is James 4:13-16.
James 4:13-16
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
I love this verse. For people who like to plan out every moment of their lives, this is a direct warning not to spend so much time trying to predict their future and instead ask for the Lord’s will to be done in their life and for Him to guide them. If we desire His will above our own, then we will never be disappointed. Here are some additional verses that echo the same message.
Proverbs 3:5-6
3 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Psalm 118:8
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Now, how about some verses that provide encouragement and hope to those who are struggling with
trials in their life. These are some of my favorite Bible promises. I like to read these when I am going
through a tough time and need a reminder that God is always with me.
1 Peter 5:7
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Isaiah 26:3-4
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
There are three things that I would like to highlight from the verses I just read.
First, I think it’s important to know that God is available to us. He wants us to seek Him out. We may feel like we have sinned too much for Him to hear us or bless us, but He has left us the precious promise that He will hear our prayers and we will find Him if we seek Him with all our hearts. He also wants us to know that He loves us and He has a plan for our lives.
The second point I would like to highlight is in reference to God’s strength being made perfect in our weakness. God always uses the weaknesses of men to do great things. Remember the Bible stories of people in impossible situations. He can do those same things in our lives. If you know you are weak, then you are in a good place for God to use you. If you think you have it all together and do not feel a need for God, then maybe you aren’t ready to be used yet.
And lastly, know that God is perfect in His wisdom and understanding of the situations in our lives. He does not have to rely on trial and error. He has infinite wisdom and there is nothing He does not know about. So, you should rely on Him because He knows more than you can ever hope to. Relying on God for answers is not a risk that something bad will happen to you. Relying on God means you don’t have to worry anymore. And that’s something that we can all get excited about.
By the world’s standards, Henry Ford was successful as a “Self-Made Man”. But as Christians we can have something that is worth so much more than worldly success. When we commit our ways to God and trust Him to provide for us, He gives us strength and wisdom to face every trial that may come our way. The peace that comes from knowing God is with us, surpasses all understanding. It is a peace that only comes to those who are “God-Made” men and women.