Ephesians 1:5 NLT “God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.”
I can think of no better way to describe the orphan mentality than to write about what I saw and felt when I was in Romania many years ago. Due to the Communist leader Nicolae Ceauşescu’s policies, there were a lot of orphans. Even though these orphans were now young adults, and Ceasecu’s reign was long over, the orphan mentality remained. As we traveled through Romania, I could sense a fog of fear. Insecurity seemed to rule the day. For example, people wanted everything closed up tight. We would travel in a car with sweltering heat, but the car windows remained closed up tight. I actually rolled down the car window to get some refreshing breeze, only to have my seatmate reach over me and roll it back up. The open window created a sense of insecurity and vulnerability.
As in the natural so it is in the spiritual. An orphan spirit creates insecurity and a feeling of vulnerability. People lock up their emotions, and their lives, as a means of self-protection. Orphans strive to be self-sufficient and independent. They have learned to live that way - an orphan can’t depend on a parent to provide, protect, or care for him. He has to make his own way. Orphans tend to operate from a state of fear, shame, guilt, and rejection. It can feel impossible to trust anyone or anything.
But the Bible tells us that we have been adopted. Adopted by God Himself. Do you live adopted? Here are some questions to ask yourself. Do you have an orphan spirit?
1. The orphan spirit operates out of insecurity and jealousy. The spirit of sonship functions out of love and kindness.
2. The orphan spirit is competitive and jealous of the success of others. The adopted child is committed to the success of others and rejoices at it.
3. The orphan spirit will serve God in an effort to earn the Father’s love and attention. The adoptive son serves God out of a sense of acceptance, favor, and love.
4. The orphan spirit is closed to correction and takes everything personally. The adopted son is teachable and willing to yield.
5. Those with an orphan spirit have a hard time loving and accepting themselves. Those walking in sonship realize their flaws, and admit them, but know that God’s love covers a multitude of sins. They can love themselves and others.
6. The orphan spirit receives their primary identity through material possessions, their physical appearance, accomplishments, and activities. The spirit of sonship has their identity grounded in their identity as a child of God, chosen and loved by Him.
7. Those with an orphan spirit strive for success in their careers, material possessions, and pleasures. When asked how much is enough, they would be inclined to say, ‘Just a little bit more.” Those who live adopted, are cheerful givers, finding their worth in God and what His word says about them.
If we are honest, we would probably have to admit that there is some residue of an orphan spirit in each of us. We live in a sin-filled world and it is impossible for it not to taint our thinking in some way. That said, examine your life. What characterizes your identity? Do live as a beloved child or God or as a striving, self-sufficient orphan?