No one can be absolutely independent. Each of us is dependent upon God for our life, breath and being (Acts 17:28). In the society of men, every member is relatively dependent upon every other member for the common welfare. For this reason, all people are naturally united in families, communities, and nations. “God setteth the solitary in families. . .” (Ps. 68:6). To this extent, it is good that people are dependent upon one another. No man lives to himself (Rom. 14:7).

However, problems develop when people began to depend upon other people more than they do upon God. Any man or group of men is always limited in power, resources, and the perfect knowledge needed to help another with his needs. God knows no such limitations. “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” (Ps. 147:5). Past generations, especially those who opened the frontier and settled this country, depended on the Lord more than they did on man. In many cases, there were few people, if any, who could offer any help. To live and survive, they had to depend upon God and themselves for everything they needed. With God’s help, these pioneers founded this great nation with all its freedoms. They would never have succeeded if they had relied on men. Independence cannot exist where people depend absolutely on men.

Today, many of the citizens of this nation thus created no longer have faith in God; neither do they rely upon themselves. They now look to the government and its agencies to supply their needs. The more people depend upon men and their governments, the more freedoms they lose. Among men, the power to secure is always the power to control. Sadly, governments assume control over people without really making them secure. It is not so with God; He gives full freedom and absolute security to those who trust in Him (John 8:36; Rom. 8:35-39).