Christians...?

Question

First off, this is not an attack, just a question.
Second, no hateful comments please.
Now, down to business. You say whenever someone dies, that it is part of god's perfect and unchanging plan. Yet, you pray every night for things such as; a raise, health for your family, for the end of the war soon, and so on. Yet, if you not getting a raise is part of god's mysterious plan, why ask for one if no matter what you do, he won't give it to you?

Answer 1

Ever heard of Aesop? Aesop wrote the fables--stories with a point. One story he wrote goes like this: A man got his wagon stuck in the mud. He cracked the whip at his animals but to no avail. The cart was stuck. He prayed to Hercules to help him get out of this mess. Hercules came down and said, "You foolish lazy man; get out of your wagon and push from the rear and it will get unstuck". The moral of the story is "The gods help best those who help themselves".
I hope you can see the connection. If you don't get a raise perhaps you didn't ask the boss for one. (ask and you shall recieve)--the Bible. Perhaps the boss feels you don't work hard enough for a raise. Perhaps if you work harder he would consider giving you one. Perhaps the company doesn't have enough money to give you a raise. Again if you produce, sell, or repair more then the company would make more money and could afford to give you a raise. Lastly, if your boss is greedy, perhaps you should seek other employment. Remember a company is only going to pay you what you're worth. If the current company won't pay you what you're worth, I'm pretty sure another one will. God is not going to do for you what you should do for yourself.
You should know this. Contrary to what you said this seems to actually be another attack. Why do you waste your time? Is it that you find it amusing to attack others who believe differently? Perhaps talking out your issues with a group or a professional "listener" would help you to rid yourself of all this anger and animosity you have inside you. Holding it in will only destroy you, friend.

Answer 2

I think the key that a lot of people leave out is that we should pray to what God's will is. For example, if you are praying for a raise because you want more money - even though you live a comfortable life and your needs are met - then why are you praying for a raise? There is nothing wrong with asking God for it. However, it shouldn't be a demand or an expectation. If God sees that you need it, or for some other reason, that's fine. But if He sees that you are praying just to get a nicer car or buy only designer clothes or to gamble away your money, then He probably won't give you the raise. Your desire for the money is selfish and not in line with God's plan for money.

We are encouraged to pray because we need to have a 2-way dialog with God. We should have daily communion with Him. Does God already know what we want? Yes, He does. But that doesn't mean that we should assume He will give us what we want. Talking to God and telling Him why you want or need something helps you realize why you are asking, it helps you reflect on yourself and see how you are doing in your spiritual life.

Answer 3

...ah, but if you don't ask, how will you ever know if it is part of his plan?

Some people seem to think that if they just pray hard enough, God will get tired of listening and give them what they want just to shut them up. My six year old does this a LOT...this weekend, he's asked about 50 times for me to take him to the store and buy him a toy he wants...and 50 times I've said no. ...and just like people that stubbornly pray for the same thing over and over, he thinks that I'm not listening to him or that I don't love him because I'm not giving him what HE thinks he needs.

You're right...if God's plan for you doesn't include a raise at your current job, he's not going to give it to you. However, you won't know this unless you ask him and are willing to accept a "no" from him. ...and just as I've tried to teach my son all weekend, when I tell him no, he should try asking something else...or better still, ask me what I have in mind rather than driving both of us crazy begging for something that won't happen! Perhaps the reason God hasn't given the person a raise is because he wants the person to be in a different job...a raise would just delay that decision....perhaps he wants to open doors so the person can go back to school for a better/higher paying job than the person can even imagine at the current time! "...he who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20)" has something far better in mind for most of us than we can possibly imagine...but we have to be willing to take our needs to him and let HIM decide the best way to satisfy them!

Answer 4

We ask based on faith. Also, there are some things that we pray for that are foolish, and God is not likely to answer those prayers.
Also, why do we pray for things that we believe will give us a "perfect life" down here, when that is not the goal of a Christian? We are not to lay up treasures on Earth, but treasures in Heaven. It is only in Heaven when we will have a "perfect life". This is a fallen world and nothing is guaranteed here. God allows some tribulations to fall on us to mold us into better people. He wants us to come to Him in our troubles, not try to handle them on our own. An analogy would be that in order to make a sword of the highest quality that will stand up to anything, it must be repeatedly beaten and held in the fire by the blacksmith. The result is a katana-quality sword. Our lives are very much the same.

Answer 5

First off, no offense taken, your question makes sense from your point of view.
While it is true that we all die, eventually, it is also true that we are reluctant to lose close family members or good friends. We want to keep them here, with us, as long as possible...but we do recognize that death is, after all, only a door to eternal life.

As far as asking for material things, well...who doesn't want nice things?
Of course, if your prayers are nothing but a list of selfish requests, then you aren't actually in touch with God...just your own lusts.
If my not getting a raise is a part of God's mysterious plan, then He wants me in the place that He put me for a reason. Perhaps He just doesn't think I need to be burdened with alot of material junk.
I've noticed that when folks work for wealth, and attain it, they are generally not satisfied with it, but only want more and more. Their minds are not on God, or on His people any more, they are only interested in how to make more money. (Consider those phony "televangelists", for instance. Do you think for one second that God really cares if you drive a new Mercedes or an old Chevy? Hardly.)
Jesus was quite right...where your treasure is, that is where your heart is also.
What you have here is temporary...you are standing (well, sitting, probably) on condemned real estate. Once we get used to that idea, it is easier to separate ourselves from what we own, or how much we make.

It really is that simple.

Answer 6

Straight and to the point:

Believing that when someone dies it was God's will is unchristian like because it goes against what the Bible teaches.


Remember that the Bible teaches that God is Love (1 John 4:8)
and so how can the planning of deaths of many be loving? You see it just doesn't make sense.

Answer 7

No offense taken.

Hon, Praying is NOT begging. he already knows our needs. We don`t need to ask him. Praying is communing with God. Loving and talking and being in oneness with God..

Peace & God bless from Lonestar Prayer Warrior-ess <><

Answer 8

We present our requests to the Lord and also ask that His will be done, not our own. If he sees fit to give us what we want then he will. If he has something better in mind then he'll do that. If I can have faith even through tragedy I will always come out better than before.

Answer 9

Asking is also part of the plan... and I'm Agnostic!