oxymoron (noun) a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms
appear in conjunction

We use these figures of speech all the time that contain incredible contradictions.  Original copy, awfully good, civil war, jumbo shrimp, crash landing, working vacation and such.  I’m sure we can all think of several more we use every day.  I am even reminded of a half-way decent joke about military intelligence.

Sometimes we even become oxymorons ourselves.  I’m thinking specifically about the times when we convince ourselves what we are “self-sufficient”.  This is probably one of the more dangerous and isolating oxymorons we can utter in our striving to succeed in life, physically or spiritually.  Contrary to the great sages Simon and Garfunkel, we are not rocks, nor are we islands. 

We take on tasks or face obstacles thinking we are all we need.  “I can do this.”  “I got this.”  These are the rally cries of the self-sufficient man.  They are not true.  They are just platitudes that make us think we are the masters of our fate and that nothing is beyond our lone grasp. 

Proverbs 3:5 tells us not to rely on our own understanding. 

Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 tells us we cannot be successful on our own. 

There is a reason the word or sense of “togetherness” is found so often in scripture.  The early disciples and the apostles were successful when they were together and relied on God.

We must recognize that we are not self-sufficient.  We are reliant on God for everything.  And God has provided other Christians to help hold us up the same as he provided Aaron and Hur to help Moses hold his hands up when he became weak (Exodus 17). 

Rely on God. Make use of our fellow Christians he has provided for help. We are a building joined together distributing the load.

Ask for help when we need it.  Provide it when we are able.