God Will Give You What to Prove It Not What You Need
Does God e'er give us what nosotros want? The outset version of this had a slightly shorter championship. Someone asked, later on reading it, whether the answer was yep or no. This fourth dimension, I'll give the reply abroad right upfront. Information technology's right there in the title. Information technology depends. This ways, therefore, the reply is no! Without fifty-fifty getting into the status(due south) upon which "it depends", the answer must be no, since at that place is, in fact, at least i condition. Let's find out about that condition.
What you read to a higher place is my new opening, hither in January 2022. Here'south the original, from dorsum in June 2018.
Does God ever give us what nosotros want? There are certainly those who say the answer is aye. Peculiarly if we have enough faith. I got an email the other 24-hour interval with this passage from the Bible:
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his volition, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatsoever nosotros ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
That sounds similar God will e'er give u.s. what nosotros want – doesn't it? The thing is – that email came from biblegateway.com. Surely, this isn't what they meant to say – is information technology?
Is God really the ultimate souvenir dispenser – giving united states our every desire?
Or is something missing?
Now, here'due south the updated version of the remainder of that original article. Hopefully, I've learned something over the by three and a one-half years. Years where sometimes I got what I wanted. But sometimes I didn't. Other times I conspicuously got what I didn't want! And then there's the times when I got something out of the blue. Well, out of the blue to me. But not to God. So, let's come across how this comes out.
Does God always requite u.s. what nosotros desire? – Does the Bible say He does?
Sorry for the trick questions, sort of. The reply to both questions is no.
However, the quote really is from the Bible. It's from the department the NIV calls Concluding Remarks, in one John. Hither's the passage over again, with verse numbers included. Normally, I don't give verses without context. But, in this case, I am. For a brusk time. Nosotros'll become to the full passage shortly.
Simply! Here's the Information technology depends part.
1Jn 5:fourteen This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if nosotros ask anything according to his volition, he hears us. xv And if we know that he hears us—whatever nosotros ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Hang on a minute. Did you take hold of the part most "according to His will"?
That begs the question – what is His volition?
For some, information technology's whatsoever we want, as long as we have enough faith. Yous can read about a sometimes claimed link between faith and healing in The Problem of Healing (or Non).
For others, God wants united states of america to exist happy, so it's whatever makes us happy. You can read about the then-chosen "prosperity gospel" in Searching for hope – only not finding it?.
Merely based on those two examples, you can probably guess that what we remember is God's volition may more than likely be our will, non His at all.
Does God always give us what we want?
Obviously (hopefully it's becoming obvious at least) the respond is no – God does not e'er give us what we desire.
We already saw that God gives according to His volition – non ours. But – there'due south more.
Permit's expect at that 1 John passage in context. It'due south function of a section the NIV titles Concluding Remarks. As such, it sounds like just a collection of random thoughts at the cease of the letter. But let's non dismiss it so easily. Let's see if/how they all affect our await at the championship question today – Does God always give united states what we want? That depends.
Terminal Remarks – 1 John
1Jn five:13 I write these things to you who believe in the proper name of the Son of God so that y'all may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Hither's my original comment on the verses from 1 John. It'due south extremely short compared to what I but finished writing on the entire passage for this update.
Oh. Now we've added you who believe in the name of the Son of God. Well, that certainly changes things. I recently published Being a real Christian isn't easy. You lot do not want to leave too, do you lot? which goes into some detail well-nigh the difference between those who have some mensurate of conventionalities nearly Jesus, as compared to those who actually believe in Jesus. The people in the latter grouping are the ones who practise things in their lives because of their behavior. Furthermore, that belief is really based on the Bible – not someone'south version of what they think the Bible really means – as opposed to what information technology says it means. It'south existent belief – and real activeness considering of that.
Now, let's break down these verses.
1Jn five:13 I write these things to you who believe in the proper noun of the Son of God so that you may know that yous have eternal life.
The start poesy lets us know that what follows is not for literally anybody. I said earlier that there were conditions to the idea that God gives u.s.a. everything we want. Here's ane of them.
What we're almost to read in this section is meant only for believers. And and so, non everyone who claims to be a laic. Rather, for everyone who truly is a believer. Someone who follows Jesus in the manner of what that words we read as "believe" actually meant in Jesus' time. And, I submit, withal means today. For more on that, please bank check out Are we supposed to Believe God, Believe in God or Follow God? I truly ray yous read it. Sadly, it gets into something we don't ofttimes hear in enough churches.
xiv This is the confidence nosotros have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears united states. 15 And if nosotros know that he hears u.s.a.—whatever we ask—we know that nosotros have what we asked of him.
Now we see another condition. Non only is this passage for true believers in Christ, but it's also when nosotros ask anything according to his will. We're getting further and further from the idea that God volition give us any we want.
1Jn 5:16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not pb to expiry, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to decease. I am not saying that he should pray near that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and in that location is sin that does not lead to expiry.
Wow. This is why we need to read the Bible over and over. And I don't mean speed read to bank check off the box that says we faithfully read it through every year. No – I hateful that nosotros faithfully read the Bible with the goal of learning about God'south give-and-take.
I just noticed something in here that'south never actually striking me before. My head's a bit thick. Sometimes it'due south not like shooting fish in a barrel for things to get through. But I've read, and written about, this passage many times before. And I've written about the subject of this passage. And even so, I never put the ii together earlier tonight.
What the heck am I talking about? This: There is a sin that leads to death. I even wrote about that earlier today.
What is that unforgivable sin? Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Paul seems to include grieving the Holy Spirit. That could include, at some signal, ignoring the Holy Spirit so often, consistently, and thoroughly, that nosotros cease up quenching the Holy Spirit. Putting out the burn down, in reference to the Pentecost – the outcome in the upper room when the Holy Spirit was commencement given to the Apostles.
In light of our present topic, it may be significant. But allow's only hold that thought for now.
Wow, again, Can't believe I never "saw" this earlier. Must be a reason for it coming this evening.
1Jn 5:eighteen We know that anyone born of God does non go on to sin; the i who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.
OK – this is ane to exist careful with. … anyone built-in of God does not continue to sin. There'due south no way that can be taken literally, And yet, unless we take the larger context of what John wrote in this letter, and the context of the New Testament overall, that's exactly the conclusion ane tin can reach. It should be taken every bit:
18. Whatsoever is born of God sinneth not reiterates the principle which has been stated in many different ways throughout the book, that if a person is genuinely born of God (Gr gennaĊ is used in the perfect tense), he will not alive in sin (Gr hamartanĊ is used in the present tense to imply a life characterized by sin, rather than an isolated human action of sin). John once more plays upon the word born by using it to refer to Christ; he that is begotten of God keepeth himself should rather be translated, "The I who was built-in of God keeps him." It is because Christ keeps the laic that the evil 1 cannot touch on him. [1] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. One thousand., eds. (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (pp. 2639–2640). Thomas Nelson.
Information technology's very similar to what I mentioned about grieving the Holy Spirit earlier. At some point, even though nosotros receive the Holy Spirit at baptism, if we continually ignore the Spirit's nudgings and warnings, nosotros are headed for problem.
That reminds me, information technology's a good idea to say something about the Holy Spirit here. That adds some further context to what I'm saying in regard to grieving Him.
Jesus promises The Holy Spirit
Jn 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I volition ask the Father, and he will give you some other Advisor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, considering it neither sees him nor knows him. Simply y'all know him, for he lives with you and volition be in you lot. 18 I will non leave you every bit orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, just you lot will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Male parent, and y'all are in me, and I am in you lot. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the 1 who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I likewise volition love him and prove myself to him."
Jn fourteen:22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "Just, Lord, why do y'all intend to evidence yourself to usa and not to the world?"
Jn xiv:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Begetter will dear him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my education. These words yous hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Jn 14:25 "All this I accept spoken while even so with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my proper noun, will teach you all things and volition remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I go out with you; my peace I give you lot. I practice not give to yous as the world gives. Practise not let your hearts be troubled and do not exist afraid.
Jn 14:28 "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you lot loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I take told yous now earlier it happens, and so that when it does happen yous will believe. 30 I will non speak with y'all much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must larn that I love the Begetter and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
"Come up now; allow us leave."
We can see a lot about the Holy Spirit in there. And lots of opportunities for us to ignore Him. And, the danger of living a life without Him, which can lead to grieving the Holy Spirit.
It'southward interesting how things happen. And when. Without the realization of what verse 16 was saying about the "unforgivable sin", I would not accept written much of what yous just read. Information technology wasn't in the starting time version. I can simply chalk it up to 26 Simply the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will ship in my name, will teach y'all all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. In other words, give credit where credit is due.
After all that, let's take a wait at the verse as a whole:
1Jn 5:eighteen We know that anyone born of God does not proceed to sin; the one who was built-in of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot impairment him.
We now realize what information technology says, in its full context. A true follower of Christ does not alive a life characterized by sin. We can do that only considering we listen to the Holy Spirit, at least most of the fourth dimension. After all, only Jesus is perfect. Farther, information technology is Jesus that keeps us safety from the evil ane. And, to keep things in the context of the Bible every bit a whole, condom refers to our eternal souls, not to every result of our life. After all, nosotros practise know God allows things to happen to grow our faith. And at that place are consequences for some actions likewise.
19 Nosotros know that nosotros are children of God, and that the whole globe is under the control of the evil one.
These are restatements of things nosotros've already read, and they fix upward what's coming side by side.
20 Nosotros know also that the Son of God has come and has given us agreement, and then that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
1Jn five:21 Beloved children, go on yourselves from idols.
Idols. Some of the things that can go on united states of america from being children of God.
I'll expand this thought later, just what we should realize at this point, God wants to give u.s. what we desire, because He wants our volition to lucifer His. Our desires to match His. This means We will ask for the things He wants united states to ask for.
To love – or not to beloved
There'south something else in 1 John that gives us an idea of whether or non what nosotros're asking for is God's will – or ours.
Exercise Not Love the World
1Jn 2:xv Do not dear the world or annihilation in the world. If anyone loves the earth, the love of the Father is not in him. sixteen For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful human, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Begetter but from the world. 17 The earth and its desires pass away, simply the man who does the will of God lives forever.
That's a pretty expert fashion for us to test the things nosotros want to ask for. What do we want? Why practise we want information technology? And if the thing(due south) we want is for this life and this world – it's our will. Information technology sounds easy. But so, it's also easy to convince ourselves that when we're "rewarded" with things we want, that God must be pleased with us and that's why we got them. It's harder to realize that maybe, just mayhap, we got something as a examination of organized religion meant to grow us.
God's honey and ours
To continue that idea – nosotros as well should expect at the differences betwixt God's love – and our love.
God's Love and Ours
1Jn iv:7 Beloved friends, let usa dear 1 some other, for dearest comes from God. Anybody who loves has been built-in of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not beloved does not know God, considering God is beloved. 9 This is how God showed his dearest amidst us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might alive through him. 10 This is dearest: not that we loved God, just that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. eleven Dear friends, since God and so loved us, we also ought to love i another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his dearest is fabricated complete in us.
God's love isn't a better version of our love. The "dear" that nosotros have is merely a shadow of God's love. If information technology wasn't for God's love for us, nosotros wouldn't even accept the slightest inkling what love is.
1Jn four:13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to exist the Savior of the earth. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And then we know and rely on the love God has for us.
This is so bones. And yet, so of import. And often not really accustomed. Without this, we are nevertheless clueless as to the true pregnant of dearest.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this fashion, love is made complete amongst us and then that nosotros volition have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fearfulness in beloved. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The i who fears is not made perfect in love.
I recall we oftentimes accept fear in homo love. Fear that the one nosotros love will hurt u.s.. Fear that they will leave us. Or accept reward of u.s.a.. And all too often, that's exactly what happens. Fifty-fifty if it's not intentional, information technology happens. Considering our love is such a pale shadow of God's love for us.
Unfortunately, experiences like that brand it difficult to trust God'southward love for us. And therefore, for us to love God in render.
1Jn 4:19 We dearest because he first loved united states. xx If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does non beloved his blood brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given u.s.a. this command: Whoever loves God must too love his blood brother.
Again – even the petty bit of dear that we do understand comes to the states through God's dear for us. And if nosotros love the way He does – then at that place'south no room for hating each other.
I recently did an article titled Whoever loves God must also love his brother and sister. It goes into much greater depth about the God's honey and ours passage. I recommend checking it out if you haven't still read it. A deeper understanding of the passage should assist to understand today's topic besides.
Putting it all together – Does God always give us what we want?
And so – considering all of this, the answer to the question ofDoes God e'er requite united states what we want? has to be no.
I repeat – it has to exist no!
It'due south because God loves usa that He cannot give us everything we desire. If God gave us everything we wanted, then nosotros would come across Him as that magic gift giver. The one who satisfies all of our desires. No matter what they are. And when He gives united states of america those things we desire for evil purposes, things that would keep us from loving Him for who He actually is, so God becomes the one who performs evil. God would be the one who leads us to Hell.
Well, He could be doing evil. But that's not possible. Hither'southward something lifted from Was Judas saved? Did God love him enough to forgive him?
God can do anything, can't He? Actually, no, God cannot do literally anything. For instance, God cannot make a square circle. A square circle is an oxymoron. A foursquare and a circle are two very different things. By definition, there'south no such affair as a square circle. So, even God can't brand a square circumvolve.
God besides cannot exercise things that are against His nature.
Since God is love, and God is good, He cannot do evil. That means the scenario of God giving us everything nosotros wanted, knowing full well nosotros'd see Him as something similar a magic genie, It simply won't happen.
Conclusion – Does God always give u.s. what nosotros want? That depends.
And so we see – for a very existent reason, God cannot requite u.s.a. everything nosotros want.
We must effort to line up our view of love with His, and human action accordingly. And in the aforementioned way, nosotros must try to line upward our will with His, and ask accordingly. Both of these require the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And that we actually listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides u.s. through this life.
Find – I said "try". We will never fully succeed. Not this side of Heaven, anyway. But the ameliorate we get at listening, loving, and trying to exercise God'due south will, the closer we come up to what John wrote.
… that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Source: https://godversusreligion.com/does-god-always-give-us-what-we-want-that-depends/
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