Jesus says the two greatest commands are to (1) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and to (2) “love your neighbor as yourself.”
No matter what job I have, these two commandments will govern my course of action.
The world has a first expectation that a manager will achieve results.
God believes that our faith is demonstrated in our action. There is a subtle difference between the two.
While both agree that working towards a goal is necessary, the Christian is told by God that it is God who ultimately determines the outcome.
Therefore, there may be times that the outcome God produces or allows to happen, is not one that matches the managers work. Good things happen to bad people (some of the time), and sometimes, bad things happen to good people. This is the complexity I have found in the Word of God.
This post provides an overview of what seems to be predestiny and what seems to be our outcome producing a result.
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”
“A man’s steps are ordained by the LORD; How then can a person understand his way?
“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He pleases.”
“The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.”
“There is no wisdom, no understanding, And no plan against the LORD.”
“No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the LORD.”
“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.”
Within Scripture, it seems that there is some influence that personal choice has on our outcome.
Yes, God has the final say.
However, it seems the Bible says in some instances our actions can result in blessings or curses.
But this is not to say that all hardtimes are a result of our actions. Some hardtimes are ordained by God & are not the result of our own personal actions.
The story of Job in the Book of Job showcases a man with little to no sin undergoing very hard times under the oversight of God. However, Job does receive a blessing from God at the end. A blessing greater than before.
Verses in Proverbs That Indicate Our Actions Influence The Outcome We Receive
Proverbs 20:26 (NIV): “A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them.”
Proverbs 20:28 (ESV): “Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.”
Proverbs 20:28 (NASB): “Loyalty and truth watch over the king, And he upholds his throne by loyalty.”
Proverbs 21:3 (NASB): “To do righteousness and justice Is preferred by the LORD more than sacrifice.”
Proverbs 21:5 (NLT): “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”
Proverbs 21:6 (NIV): “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.”
Proverbs 21:6 (NLT): “Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.”
Proverbs 21:7 (ESV): “The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just.”
Proverbs 21:11 (NKJV): “When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.”
Proverbs 21:13 (ESV): “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”
Proverbs 21:13 (NIV): “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”
Proverbs 21:13 (NLT): “Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.”
Proverbs 21:16 (NLT): “The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.”
Proverbs 21:16 (NIV): “Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.”
Proverbs 21:16 (KJV): “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”
Proverbs 21:17 (ESV): “Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.”
Proverbs 21:17 (NASB): “One who loves pleasure will become a poor person; One who loves wine and oil will not become rich.”
Proverbs 21:17 (NLT): “Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.”
Proverbs 21:20 (ESV): “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.”
Proverbs 21:20 (NASB): “There is precious treasure and oil in the home of the wise, But a foolish person swallows it up.”
Proverbs 21:20 (NLT): “The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.”
Proverbs 21:21 (ESV): “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.”
Proverbs 21:21 (NASB): “One who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness, and honor.”
Proverbs 21:21 (NLT): “Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.”
Proverbs 21:23 (ESV): “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”
Proverbs 21:23 (NIV): “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
Proverbs 21:23 (NASB): “One who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.”
Proverbs 21:28 (NIV): “A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.”
Proverbs 21:29 (NIV): “The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.”
Proverbs 22:1 (NLT): “Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.”
Proverbs 22:3 (ESV): “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”
Proverbs 22:3 (NIV): “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 22:3 (NASB): “A prudent person sees evil and hides himself, But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.”
This list could go on & on. It really could. This is only two books of Proverbs. There are likely verses I misunderstood & didn’t include. But it goes to show you how deep the Word of God can be.
However, maybe, the conclusion is that . . . God does have certain events mapped out for humanity. Jesus coming to die for our sins & the prayer to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane indicate some events were ordained, for sure. Jesus prayed to His Father to remove the cup of suffering to come, yet also ended with “Yet not as I will but as you will.”
But, so many stories in the Bible indicate, that our prayers, fastings, and actions can influence God’s response.
Why else should we intercede in prayers for loved ones?
Why else does He ask us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us?
Why else . . .
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