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The above was a signature slogan of the imaginary character Alfred E. Neuman who appeared on the cover of Mad Magazine. But contrary to the ironic sarcasm that implied, as far as God goes there is truth to that for those who love Him. Jesus in Matthew 6: 31-33 says, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For… your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Also, Jesus in Matthew 6: 8 says, “…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Is this an idle boast? Inasmuch as Romans 8:28 says “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” we can trust God to provide a solution to what we want, so long as what we want is in the spirit of His calling. And inasmuch as Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding,” the solution God comes up with is a good one.
But there are all kinds of worries, some of which God may not respond because there is no righteousness in it. For example, a person may worry about providing for his family if he is laid off. This is a worry that God would address, If the person truly loves God, and he is diligent in finding work; and if he doesn’t sit home waiting for a job to fall in his lap, then by the grace of God he will find another job. It may take a little time, and it may take spending a little time in school, but eventually he will find a job to suit his needs. On the other hand, if a person worries about winning at a crap table, God may not accommodate him. It is those who, like Abel, work to create things, by the figurative sweat of his own brow instead of waiting for chance or picking something up that is already in the ground without his doing, the way Cain did, that God would respond to.
God in this day and age does not do things the way He did in the Old Testament, therefore, a person out of work, say, should not expect God to provide him with a rod, telling him if he touches the floor with it he’ll get a phone call from someone offering him a job. God these days does things so it isn’t obvious he had a hand in it. But those who have faith in Him know the extent of the hand He had in their good fortune.
It is sort of a balancing act. On the one hand, we should not boast of our works, as that implies that God had nothing to do with it. But on the other hand, God these days does not appear as a fire in a burning bush when something good happens. But when something good does happen, like the person out of work who finds a job, and he trusts in God and His Grace, chances are He had some hand in it.
But you get a better response from God if you ask Him. It wasn’t until God heard the cries of the Hebrews in Egypt, that He freed them from bondage. So, Philippians 4:6 says “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
And if there is any doubt as to God’s role in our well-being, Psalm 23:1 says “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Is this an idle boast? Inasmuch as Romans 8:28 says “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” we can trust God to provide a solution to what we want, so long as what we want is in the spirit of His calling. And inasmuch as Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding,” the solution God comes up with is a good one.
But there are all kinds of worries, some of which God may not respond because there is no righteousness in it. For example, a person may worry about providing for his family if he is laid off. This is a worry that God would address, If the person truly loves God, and he is diligent in finding work; and if he doesn’t sit home waiting for a job to fall in his lap, then by the grace of God he will find another job. It may take a little time, and it may take spending a little time in school, but eventually he will find a job to suit his needs. On the other hand, if a person worries about winning at a crap table, God may not accommodate him. It is those who, like Abel, work to create things, by the figurative sweat of his own brow instead of waiting for chance or picking something up that is already in the ground without his doing, the way Cain did, that God would respond to.
God in this day and age does not do things the way He did in the Old Testament, therefore, a person out of work, say, should not expect God to provide him with a rod, telling him if he touches the floor with it he’ll get a phone call from someone offering him a job. God these days does things so it isn’t obvious he had a hand in it. But those who have faith in Him know the extent of the hand He had in their good fortune.
It is sort of a balancing act. On the one hand, we should not boast of our works, as that implies that God had nothing to do with it. But on the other hand, God these days does not appear as a fire in a burning bush when something good happens. But when something good does happen, like the person out of work who finds a job, and he trusts in God and His Grace, chances are He had some hand in it.
But you get a better response from God if you ask Him. It wasn’t until God heard the cries of the Hebrews in Egypt, that He freed them from bondage. So, Philippians 4:6 says “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
And if there is any doubt as to God’s role in our well-being, Psalm 23:1 says “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”