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By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4:17-18
Reflect
It started as an ordinary self-help retreat – ordinary, at least, for the more than 50 participants willing to pay the $9,000 price tag. Before it was over, the retreat was far from ordinary. Two people had died and more than a dozen others were hospitalized. And it was all part of an effort to help people tap into their inner power and lead them to greater success and riches.
The weekend was masterminded by James Arthur Ray, a self-help “expert” who had written four books, including Practical Spirituality: How to Use Spiritual Power to Create Tangible Results and The Seven Laws of True Wealth: Create the Life You Desire and Deserve. For this retreat, Ray had rented space at a center near Sedona, Ariz., and designed a five-day “Spiritual Warrior” event that included a “sweat lodge” ceremony. This ritual was borrowed from a Native American practice traditionally associated with spiritual purification, although Ray’s version was far removed from a traditional ceremony.
Ray had put together a wooden-framed enclosure that was covered with tarps and blankets. Inside it was somewhat like a sauna. Water was poured over heated rocks, creating intense steam. The temperatures rose to dangerous levels, and there was no control over how hot it was getting. On top of that, many of the participants had been fasting for at least 36 hours before the ceremony. As the temperatures rose, Ray reportedly encouraged participants to push through their physical distress in pursuit of spiritual purification. That purity proved elusive for many – two died following the ceremony, and a third died nine days later. More than a dozen others had to be hospitalized for severe dehydration and other medical problems.
And it was all in the name of self-help.
You all know the scripture that says, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” No? That’s because it isn’t in the Bible. Yes, the Lord wants us to act as agents of change in our own lives, but He also wants us to know that He is the source of everything that is good. Yes, the Bible does say things like, “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” (Proverbs 12:11) But it also says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved…” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
God doesn’t call us to sit still and do nothing to help ourselves. He gives us abilities, opportunities and responsibilities, and He expects us to use them. But we should never mistake our efforts for the source of our strength. Even our ability to act comes from Him. And if we take every action possible without acknowledging God, we might be successful – but God won’t be honored by our efforts. We can absolutely trick ourselves into thinking that all of our success is our own doing, but while we are deceived, God isn’t. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) If we spend our lives pursuing wealth, power and recognition, we shouldn’t be surprised when those pursuits fail to produce spiritual maturity, humility and love.
It’s not a bad thing to find better ways to do things to help yourself. But when the tactics you use encourage you to tap into your own power – and not the power of God – you should run in the other direction. And if the self-help you’re seeking is leading you to pursue wealth, power and fame instead of a deeper relationship with the Lord, you might need to double-check your motivations. After all, John reminds us, “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) Our transformation begins with God’s love, not our own accomplishments. Seek grace, love and mercy first and trust the Lord to meet your needs. Help yourself? Absolutely. But remember that becoming your very best isn’t necessarily about becoming wealthier, more powerful or more successful. It’s about becoming more like Christ.
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Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
