Is God micro-managing us?

[Francois]

I have numerous evangelical friends, and they are constantly saying things like “Well, we will move if God wants us to” or “I will find a job if God wants me to” or “I prayed to God to help me get a good deal on the car I want to buy” or"I prayed to God that we sell our house for a good price". What am I missing? Is God concerned about where I live, how much I pay for my car, or sell my house for?

Perpaps I am not seeing this in the right light, which would not be the first time. I do pray, I could certainly improve and do better and more of it, but the things I try to pray for would not involve my car or a better phone plan or a move.

Any thoughts on what I am missing?

 

[anawim]

I was raised to think that God doesn’t care whether you’re a doctor, lawyer, or an Indian chief, as long as you strive for holiness, and be the best you can be, it doesn’t matter. Then in high school I encountered the idea that “God has a plan for your life”. I had to admit the idea seemed appealing. I kept vascillating back and forth, trying to determine which was true. I prayed and meditated on it for a number of years, not being able to discern which was correct. Then in that still, small voice that God often speaks in, He said, “Look at my life. Where I was born, when I was born, who my parents were, where we lived, what I did, and said, etc.”. Our lives do not have the significance that Jesus has, but being brothers and sisters in Him, our lives are as much a constant concern to the Almighty as Jesus Himself. JMHO.

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

I try to involve God in all parts of my life. Any major decision I want to know what He would want me to do, so I ask Him. He is all-knowing and ever-wise. His solution and ways far exceed what I come up with.

We have free will and can choose what we do (and are accountable for those choices). I choose to do His will in all things (and try oh do I try to do, but sometimes I fail).

Is it micro-managing, when your children ask you how you should do something and you help them? It is act of a loving parent in loving their child.

Likewise, God as a loving parent, loves us, but does not micro-manage us.

Does God want to be involved in all parts of our life. Yes.

 

[II_Paradox_II]

Francois:

Perpaps I am not seeing this in the right light, which would not be the first time. I do pray, I could certainly improve and do better and more of it, but the things I try to pray for would not involve my car or a better phone plan or a move.

This seems to me to potentially be both good and bad. It can be good in that one who prays for even the simple things will be thankful for the same that come from the hand of God. The scriptures do speak of God’s interaction with even the most mundane details so it isn’t like this sort of prayer is totally foreign to a biblical worldview.

However, this can also be bad in some ways as it may encourage one to think of God as a sort of cosmic sugar-daddy which is certainly not a good thing.

On the whole, I think such things are not bad however, in that they can nurture a sense of reliance upon God and a reflection upon the depth of His care for us.

ken

 

[Shibboleth]

This is a horrible misconception that I hear from both Protestants and Catholics alike. God does not intervene at all times and all instances. Do you think God wants people to starve in Albania? Not only are they relying on God to live their life for them but also they are ignoring God’s use of other people to spread his wishes and message. If a bunch of people are telling you to get a job, maybe just maybe that is the Holy Spirit working through your friends and family.

I remember the story a while back where a man had his starving family holed up in a house and he said if God wants me not to starve he will provide food for my family and me. Well hundreds of Christians showed up on his doorstep trying to give him food. He rejected their gifts and stated that he was waiting for God to send him food, what he didn’t realize is that God just had.

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

There is an old saying from many of the saints,

“Pray as if everything relies on God, Work as if everything depends on you.”

Asking God to be involved does not mean that we abdicate our responsilbity, rather that we do want we can under his guidance (and often we will receive no special guidance).