In the biblical account, humans are not capable of achieving true fulfillment or salvation through their own efforts. The apostle Paul acknowledges this limitation, stating that his sufficiency comes from God, not himself, as expressed in 2 Corinthians 3:5. Jesus teaches in John 15:5 that apart from Him, we can do nothing, emphasizing our dependence on Him for true productivity and purpose. Furthermore, the parable in Luke 12:16-21 warns against trusting in material wealth and self-reliance, while 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Ephesians 2:8 underscore the idea that our strength and salvation come from God's grace, not our own abilities.
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Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who array yourselves with firebrands, walk in the light of your fire and of the firebrands you have lit! This is what you will receive from My hand: You will lie down in a place of torment.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.