Can you turn to God only for him?

[Whyte]

Can you not turn to God to get your needs? Is there scripture for this?

 

[Nanopants]

False dilemma.

There's way to many answered prayers in scripture to say that God never gives us what we ask for.

 

[Tangible]

... but justification is all about Jesus Christ and nothing about us.

Don't get drawn into the trap of purpose drivel. We are not saved in order to do stuff that makes God happy. Nothing we could ever do is good enough to make God happy. We are saved for the glorification of Jesus Christ by the Father, who in turn lays all glory at his Father's feet.

The good deeds God has planned in advance for us to do are for the benefit of our neighbor. God doesn't need our good works but our neighbor does.

 

[Nanopants]

Now I'm not sure I'm understanding what we're talking about here, but God always measures back. From glory, to glory. It's a constant exchange.

 

[Messy]

Can you not turn to God to get your needs? Is there scripture for this?

We turn to Him because we need to be reconciled with Him.

It says only this in James 4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

But Jesus teaches us to pray that He provides our needs, His Name is Jehovah Jireh: my Provider
Matthew 6
For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 

[bling]

Can you not turn to God to get your needs? Is there scripture for this?

The prodigal son went home in hopes of getting a job, so he could have a life and not starve to death feeding pigs in the pigsty.

Prior to obtaining Godly type Love we have only selfish motivations for doing stuff.

 

[sunlover1]

The prodigal son went home in hopes of getting a job, so he could have a life and not starve to death feeding pigs in the pigsty.

Prior to obtaining Godly type Love we have only selfish motivations for doing stuff.

Mine are still selfish.
I love and want to be with Him.
I "need" Him. I hate leaving
His presence.
Selfish selfish selfish.
Not gonna lie.

 

[christianmomof3]

Can you not turn to God to get your needs? Is there scripture for this?

Because God Himself is all we need. If we have Him, we have everything. We may think we need other things, but only He knows what we need. If we love the Lord with all our heart, soul and might, like the lillies of the field, and the birds, we will not need anything. He will be our everything.
When we are asking for "stuff" - anything other than God Himself, we are asking for what we want - which may not be what He wants. He has promised to care for us and He alone should be our goal.

At least that is what the proper Christian response would be.

 

[RDKirk]

... but justification is all about Jesus Christ and nothing about us.

Don't get drawn into the trap of purpose drivel. We are not saved in order to do stuff that makes God happy. Nothing we could ever do is good enough to make God happy. We are saved for the glorification of Jesus Christ by the Father, who in turn lays all glory at his Father's feet..

This is not to say that Jesus does not have a purpose for each one of us, particularly in this Church Age.

The analogies given of the expectation of bearing fruit as branches on a vine, of being members of a unified Body are all directed toward the understanding that we each do have a role to play, a part in the mission of the Church.

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -- Ephesians 2

 

[Tangible]

This is not to say that Jesus does not have a purpose for each one of us, particularly in this Church Age.

The analogies given of the expectation of bearing fruit as branches on a vine, of being members of a unified Body are all directed toward the understanding that we each do have a role to play, a part in the mission of the Church.

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -- Ephesians 2

As I said above, our good deeds benefit our neighbor, not God. God doesn't need our good works, and nothing we could ever do would be good enough to please him. Especially, if we're doing them out of a motivation of quid pro quo, then God certainly isn't pleased!

We are to let our good works shine before men, not before God.

Relevant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgg_g9z98fc

 

[RDKirk]

Can you not turn to God to get your needs? Is there scripture for this?

I'm not sure I understand the question, but I also suspect it's a false dilemma.

"Can you not turn to God to get your needs?"

Yes, I can not turn to God to get my needs. Most people, in fact, do not turn to God to "get their needs."

But I can also turn to God to get my needs met, and there is scripture for that, among others:

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 4

However, "needs" is a lot more circumscribed that most Christians think (especially--but certainly not exclusively--the word of faith folks).

Jesus gives us the basic economic theory of the Body of Christ in Luke 12.

Jesus first specifically defined each person's "need" as daily bread--referring back to the manna in the wilderness. Our "need" is three hots, a cot, and a coat sufficient for a single day.

Anything we get more than that is a stewardship to be rendered to the rest of the Body of Christ as they have need.

Paul gives greater detail on this in 2 Corinthians 8--also referring back to the manna in the wilderness just as Jesus does. Paul specifically states that the intent is to redistribute resources within the Body of Christ so that everyone gets an equal share. In fact, he states "equal" twice for emphasis.

And in Acts 2 and Acts 4, we see the Body of Christ putting it into effect.

James then identifies how people are thwarted in their prayers when they pray for resources that they intend to consume on their lusts--beyond their actual needs.

 

[Gracelands]

Can i turn to God only for Him?

Of course but Hes everything so no matter where i turn Hes there so its no sacrifice is it?

7Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139.7

 

[RDKirk]

As I said above, our good deeds benefit our neighbor, not God. God doesn't need our good works, and nothing we could ever do would be good enough to please him. Especially, if we're doing them out of a motivation of quid pro quo, then God certainly isn't pleased!

We are to let our good works shine before men, not before God.

I haven't bothered reading that stuff, and don't have a need to.

Nor is that stuff what the OP is about.

It's not a matter of whether God "needs" our good works. It's a matter of whether God intends us to do good works for His purpose. Scripture is very clear that the Church has a mission and every member has a role in supporting that mission.

 

[Tangible]

Whatever you do, don't read this!