Comments on: God’s Will and Moral Hazard http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2008/04/27/gods-will-and-moral-hazard/ A Discussion of Politics, Religion, Business, Science, Technology and Life - Comments Encouraged! Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:55:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Peter http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2008/04/27/gods-will-and-moral-hazard/#comment-21257 Peter Tue, 13 May 2008 13:21:54 +0000 http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2008/04/27/gods-will-and-moral-hazard/#comment-21257 I think Rom8:28-29 can help us: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son..." All events and circumstances of life are for our GOOD. What is our good? To be conformed to the likeness of his Son. In other words, our good is to become like Christ. For example, if you lose your job that sounds bad BUT, it may assist in you becoming more dependent on God and growing in your trust of God and thereby become more like Christ which is far more precious than any reward a job can give. Our death is the ultimate bad circumstance however it results in God transforming us and making us like Christ. So why does he let some of us live long and others only a short time? I don't think we can know his decision making processes but we do know he can be trusted to make the right decision. Hope this gets people thinking! I think Rom8:28-29 can help us:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…”

All events and circumstances of life are for our GOOD. What is our good? To be conformed to the likeness of his Son. In other words, our good is to become like Christ.

For example, if you lose your job that sounds bad BUT, it may assist in you becoming more dependent on God and growing in your trust of God and thereby become more like Christ which is far more precious than any reward a job can give.

Our death is the ultimate bad circumstance however it results in God transforming us and making us like Christ.

So why does he let some of us live long and others only a short time? I don’t think we can know his decision making processes but we do know he can be trusted to make the right decision.

Hope this gets people thinking!

]]> By: roho http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2008/04/27/gods-will-and-moral-hazard/#comment-19959 roho Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:39:18 +0000 http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2008/04/27/gods-will-and-moral-hazard/#comment-19959 Seeing the past,present,and future simultaniously gives God a bit more insight than myself. I have accepted the reality that God knows me much better than I know God, just as I know my goldfish better than they know me. Therefore, regarding those goldfish, "I am in control." Seeing the past,present,and future simultaniously gives God a bit more insight than myself.

I have accepted the reality that God knows me much better than I know God, just as I know my goldfish better than they know me. Therefore, regarding those goldfish, “I am in control.”

]]> By: Mitch http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2008/04/27/gods-will-and-moral-hazard/#comment-19943 Mitch Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:56:34 +0000 http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2008/04/27/gods-will-and-moral-hazard/#comment-19943 Great discussion. I would encourage anyone grappling with these issues to study the book of Job. For sure, God is not a vending machine. Great discussion. I would encourage anyone grappling with these issues to study the book of Job. For sure, God is not a vending machine.

]]> By: Lindsay http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2008/04/27/gods-will-and-moral-hazard/#comment-19939 Lindsay Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:11:56 +0000 http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2008/04/27/gods-will-and-moral-hazard/#comment-19939 Wow! I'm gonna have to think about this one for a couple of days. I think what I "hear" you saying is that God CAN do anything He wants - but He doesn't give us a guarantee of when He will miraculously intervene and when He will not, so that we must trust Him whatever happens, and live as though He will not miraculously "fix" all of our mistakes? I understand your problem with the "will of God" thing. I have relatives who will take whatever circumstance comes their way and say, "It must have been God's will that we..." or "I guess it wasn't God's timing..." It always strikes me as a way to avoid responsibility for their decisions. If you claim it is God's will and then things get hard, it's just "an attack" - or you can always say it isn't God's will anymore and that's why it's hard. The truth is, it might be and it might not, and we really don't have a way of knowing for sure. Therefore, the concept of God's will has no PRACTICAL value in the situation...? Thanks for a very mentally stimulating post. This one will stay with me for a while. Wow! I’m gonna have to think about this one for a couple of days. I think what I “hear” you saying is that God CAN do anything He wants - but He doesn’t give us a guarantee of when He will miraculously intervene and when He will not, so that we must trust Him whatever happens, and live as though He will not miraculously “fix” all of our mistakes?

I understand your problem with the “will of God” thing. I have relatives who will take whatever circumstance comes their way and say, “It must have been God’s will that we…” or “I guess it wasn’t God’s timing…” It always strikes me as a way to avoid responsibility for their decisions. If you claim it is God’s will and then things get hard, it’s just “an attack” - or you can always say it isn’t God’s will anymore and that’s why it’s hard. The truth is, it might be and it might not, and we really don’t have a way of knowing for sure. Therefore, the concept of God’s will has no PRACTICAL value in the situation…?

Thanks for a very mentally stimulating post. This one will stay with me for a while.

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