What if?
- Thread starter Bob Estey
- Start date
-
Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.
You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
GISMYS_7
Well-Known Member
OzSpen
Well-Known Member
- Mar 30, 2015
- 3,728
- 795
- 113
- Faith
- Christian
- Country
- Australia
Bob,
I'll need more of a defense than your simply making this statement. Where in the Bible did our Lord teach "us to fend for ourselves"?
Oz
OzSpen
Well-Known Member
- Mar 30, 2015
- 3,728
- 795
- 113
- Faith
- Christian
- Country
- Australia
No, he didn't. This is what Jesus taught: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NIV).
Oz
Love that response. God does expect us to fend for ourselves in a way, to be self sufficient, but he provides for us to do so. He provides for us to find food like the birds of the air. So we're really not alone on the fending part. He provides for us to find what we are looking for.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
BarneyFife
Well-Known Member
quietthinker
Well-Known Member
BarneyFife
Well-Known Member
Or perhaps not. Sounds like a rhetorical question to me. Not much there to analyze. I was just making an observation. Pardon me for the intrusion.
I think it was a legitimate question. Why wouldn't God teach us to fend for ourselves?
OzSpen
Well-Known Member
- Mar 30, 2015
- 3,728
- 795
- 113
- Faith
- Christian
- Country
- Australia
Bob,
We can't fend for ourselves as we depend on the Lord's sending rain on soil to produce crops. We depend on Him for the air we breathe.
Oz
Wouldn't you rather be able to fend for yourself, rather than having the Lord do everything for you?
From the beginning we've been learning to fend for ourselves. Once we were babies and could do nothing at all. It would make the Lord's job easier if we could take care of ourselves, don't you think?
Well, I believe that nothing is too big for God and also that He wants us TO depend on Him when we can no longer go any further on our own.
Like, if we suddenly lost our job, our initial reaction, especially those with families to take care of, or those on a fixed income (isn't it all "fixed"??lol) - would be to fret, worry and complain. But, when we rest in Him and just, say thank you Lord, His peace comes over us..it sure does me, only, because of the times He has literally pulled me out of the fire at the last minute! His timing is perfect.
Yes, we are told to work with our hands if we want to eat. If this is what you mean about fending for ourselves? We do as we know to do, if it is an impossibility for us, we go to God who is faithful. And have...faith in what we do not see. :)
If we could learn to fend for ourselves, it would make the Lord's job easier, and I think we'd feel better, too. We're still supposed to walk with him (pray constantly), but I don't think we want him doing eveything for us.
OzSpen
Well-Known Member
- Mar 30, 2015
- 3,728
- 795
- 113
- Faith
- Christian
- Country
- Australia
Bob,
No! He's the God of all-knowledge, all-power and all-wisdom who is much more capable of directing my life. God's sovereignty is a powerful covering for this weakling.
Never would I step into the shoes of fending for myself when God is with me. You don't know my personal difficulties. I've had FIVE open-heart, valve replacement surgeries as a result of 3 bouts of childhood rheumatic fever that left me with leaking heart valves.
I'm pleased that God has allowed or assisted surgeons to operate on me. I've been taking the blood thinner, warfarin, for 38 years. That requires regular blood tests to check my INR (international normalised ratio).
Praise the Lord that He is in control and it is not left to my puny self.
Oz
Agreed here brother, sorry about your heart issues. May God heal you...like He has all along, amen.
I would not want to live if I couldn't lean on Him! As I've said over and over again: He is my Savior, Provider, and the Lover of my soul. He has done SO much, especially in the last month or so and, I will TRUST Him with what ever comes at me again, and ya KNOW it's going to!
2 Samuel 22:31
“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him."
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths."
Similar threads
