"God doesn't owe you anything"... What do you think?

[Amy]

Have you ever heard this beautiful phrase? In a sermon, or from other Christians? "God doesn't owe you anything." What do you think of it?

As to me, my opinion is this: if you don't owe me anything, then don't promise me anything. Don't say, "ask and you shall receive," and that kind of stuff. Because when you do, you DO owe me whatever is promised.

If I tell you, "I will give you a car," and then when you show up at my door and ask for it, I say, "I don't owe you anything" - something is wrong with this picture. Don't you think?...

 

[Suzannah]

God doesn't owe me anything? Then He should never have created us.

God does indeed "owe" us something and He has fulfilled His promise: to redeem us from a sinful state, that we chose, and that we perpetuated, because He created us with "free will". (*I hate that phrase: free will. It's too easily debated. We need a new term that is more accurate.)

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I agree with you. It's a dumb thing to say. But its what people say when they don't know what else to say...it's "filler" for a sermon.
Sad but true.

 

[endure]

well i think you have to realise the meaning behind how its said.

i think he does keep his promises and makes promises for a reason, like amy said.
and he created and was obligated to take care of us to an extent too, like suzannah said.

but i think there is meaning it in some ways of thinking and application, but many people get angry at God when he doesnt please them, people say God should do this and that when he doesnt have to do anything more than what hes already done, and things like that.
also, people kinda think they can come to God and say "YOU OWE ME!" and think they can demand of God in a "you have to serve me" kind of way.
God answers prayers through our faith and love and righteousness, not becuase we can say to him "YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR WORD OR IM GOING TO ACCUSE YOU OF LYING! YOU BETTER!"
but when people think they a have an extra card up their sleeve and will be able to throw it out and kinda win the game agaisnt God...hehe...no .

God keeps his word, but he is King and no one can say unto his creator 'why have you made me this way?" and the bible says we must come to the Lord and fall down upon our faces before our creator...thats not a "you owe me" attitude. God isnt told what to do by anyone.
the moment you step into pride and think your something in yourself and God owes you because of who you are, you sin and God doesnt have to give you anything.

if we say "God owes me" out of the feeling that you dont like being treated a certain way and would hate for God to put you through a certain experience and try to negotiate out of it becuase we are better than that...thats pride, and no he doesnt owe us in that sense.
he doesnt answer prayers becuase he owes us, he answers prayers becuase hes a father and loves us.


in 1 peter the bible says husbands can have their prayers hindered, if they dont love their wives. God wont just answer anyones prayers, you have to love him and serve him and walk according to his will and please him.
the bible says also in proverbs or psalms one, that to the perverse, he will show himself perverse (that not a quote).
if you come to God with a perverted way of thinking and demanding, he will not heed you, and hell let you think hes a very perverse God.
the bible says God resists the proud...
you can come to God in prayer, and ask of him, but he will press you aside and resist you, if you have pride in you.
the bible says he resists evil doers,the bible says hes does not hear sinners.
those are several occasions where God wont answer your prayers, no matter how he created you and is supposed to watch out for you, or how often he said hed answer your prayers.


i dont think we can come with the mindset that we will receive becuase he owes us, because people think the reason he owes us is because of US... becuase we are full of ourselves, and thats pride, and he resists pride, thats the first of seven things he absolutely hates.

ya know what im saying?

 

[Super Gnat]

I think that God *chooses* to owe us. He gave us certain promises, and therefore He will fulfill them. However, He certainly doesn't owe unsaved people anything, and He doesn't owe us whatever we want. Like endure said, mostly when people think God owes them something they're dead wrong. He's not the magical gift-giving genie who exists only to make us happy.

 

[repentandbelieve]

Have you ever heard this beautiful phrase? In a sermon, or from other Christians? "God doesn't owe you anything." What do you think of it?

As to me, my opinion is this: if you don't owe me anything, then don't promise me anything. Don't say, "ask and you shall receive," and that kind of stuff. Because when you do, you DO owe me whatever is promised.

If I tell you, "I will give you a car," and then when you show up at my door and ask for it, I say, "I don't owe you anything" - something is wrong with this picture. Don't you think?...

I think most commonly the phrase "God doesn't owe you anything'" is used in reference to us recieving the gift of salvation. When used in this sense I agree with it because salvation is not something anyone "earns".

Yes, God makes promises to us. But along with those promises are conditions. The promise of eternal life comes with the condition of "believing" in Jesus (John3:16). Part of "believing" in Jesus means to believe in his work of attonement, that the price for our sins was paid by his sinless life and death on the cross. A person who believes this does not feel that God owes him the gift of salvation because they understand that it is only on the merits of what Christ has done that our salvation is made possible.

 

[mina]

I don't think God "owes" us anything in the sense that we should make irrational and absurd demands of Him and then expect Him to fulful them like our own personal Santa Claus just because we were good or something. We can't manipulate God. And God's not going to give you every thing you desire either. I might want a brand new shiny car, but just because God does give us good things doesn't mean that he "owes" me a car. God may not give us everything we want, but He will give us everything we need.

 

[looksgood]

EXALANTLY PUT ENDURE! I was about to reply when I read that and stoped. You put it all together. And I am gona have to add a quote from that to my sig hehehe.

he doesnt answer prayers becuase he owes us, he answers prayers becuase hes a father and loves us.

 

[endure]

uhm im really sorry if i have done wrong and messed up the reason for why you made this post i really didnt mean to if i did.
i didnt mean to use your post as a stage for my own intelligence to be seen from or to selfishly try to prove you wrong, i really didnt and hope that isnt what happened.

you were talking about how you beleive God commits himself to being their for us and keeping his word and fullfilling his promises, and i exactly understand what you are saying and fully agree and in that sense God is obligated to us and owes us things, becuase of his promises to us.
that is such a wonderful truth i wish i could remember more often...
thankyou for this post amy.

Godbless you.
Lee.

looksgood
WOW! you are so much more humble than me!
i would have to said it anyway and tried to doit better...becuase sometimes i get a little proud.
but you were willing to let me be the one that said it... wow! thats awesome! i commend you.
you quoted me and put it in your sig?
.... ....
well thats awesome! i give all glory to the Lord and am glad the word blessed you. i hope someone sees it and is blessed even if they never read my name.

Godbless you.
Lee.

 

[looksgood]

It is wonderfull to know that God has promised things to us. But let us not forget there is a cost to pay. To be saved it is picking up the cross and following Him. To hear from God it is prayer and fasting...and so on. I think it is good to say God does not owe us anything He hasn't already given. We just need to take what He gives.

Endure:
Ya know, in the past I wouldn't have even thought of quoteing someone else. I had bouts with pride too. Luckily God broke me. Though it really hurt bad.

 

[Unquenchable]

my opinion is this: if you don't owe me anything, then don't promise me anything. Don't say, "ask and you shall receive," and that kind of stuff. Because when you do, you DO owe me whatever is promised.

God doesn't owe me anything? Then He should never have created us....it's "filler" for a sermon.

My goodness! Girls have you read your statements? I was really shocked.

I dont want to be rude, but you both sound like spoilt brats, who lack maturity in Christ.

How can you say God owes you? Our Father who created everything on the earth for us... created us in His image, with intention of loving us.... and we ignorantly choose to go our own way, our Father mercifully let His own Son die, so that we can continue in relationship with Him.... Our Father who offers us eternity with Him... Our Father who offers us salavation through Grace.

If God offers us anything because He owes it to us, then it isn't by grace that we recieve it.

It would put all the power back in our own hands, once again we fight for control.

Our God is a gracious God who offers us things unconditionally, and he certainly does not OWE us anything.

Just because God offers us salvation if we have faith, does this mean he OWES us that salvation? No, he doesnt owe you or I, or any of us anything.

In understanding (perhaps what certain sermons are trying to illustrate) that God doesnt owe us anything, we understand His love and personality better. We can worship and praise Him because we should be so thankful he offers us anything!

 

[endure]

well man uhm...
did you really slow down and get the true meaning, point or heart of what they were saying?
i understand what your saying, but they where just emphasising Gods personal obligation to keep his word in our lives for us and to watch over us and overshadow us as we are his creation and are fully dependant on him.
they really werent bringing an attitude of selfishness...ya know?
i find great peace that God did tell me when i asked of him that he would surely keep his word and give it to me.
i think thats a wonderful truth, ya know man?
i think these 2 people brought up two wonderful truths that some people need to find and find rest in. they really do bring rest.
when you realise that God is faithful to us.

i do understand what your saying, but the point of what they were saying was true too i believe.
dont you?
just be careful what you say, ya know?
no matter how wrong somone may be, you dont speak evil of them, considering that we ourselves were once the same way.
i mean, care for them enough to really investigate what they said and look to see if its true, i think we should rather try to justify a person then bring light upon faults. you could have just hurt someones feelings.

im not trying to correct you, but do you get what im saying?
do you agree at all?

Lee.

 

[Amy]

Thank you all for your input, it has been very encouraging for me to read your thoughts on this subject. I think I might need to clarify what I meant though, and I will do that using the following example. Suppose there is a Christian family struggling financially - and because of that, spiritually. They pray, and receive no answer. They give their tithe and offerings, and they are still poor as poor can be, and their needs go unmet. I wouldn't call them spoiled brats, you know, for struggling over this and saying, "Hey, hasn't God promised to provide for us? Didn't He say, 'ask and you shall receive'?... Then what on earth is going on?!"

Now, do you think it would be fair to tell this family that God doesn't owe them anything and they shouldn't be upset with Him?

 

[BigToe]

well he doesn't owe them financial support. remember job? he was faithful to God and his health, wealth and family were taken away. but because he remained faithful he got it all back, tenfold. The lord gives and the Lord takes away.

God doesn't need anything, nor does He need to do anything. But he LONGS for our love and desire. THAT is why he gives us stuff and promises. But do you think God is gonna give you stuff just because you ask? No... check your heart and where you motivations are.

 

[Amy]

But do you think God is gonna give you stuff just because you ask?

No, of course I don't think that. But I think that when someone is in trouble, like the family I described in my previous post, they NEED to cling to God's promises. And how can you do that if "He doesn't owe you anything"? It almost sounds like, yeah, you can pray all you want, but God doesn't have to listen to you and help you out; he might keep his promise, and he might not. See what I mean?

 

[BigToe]

he wont keep it if you arent faithful perhaps? that family should expect him to keep his promises, not because God owes them anything, but because God said he'd keep them. Its more like we owe him faith than he owes us anything...

 

[Heinrich]

Blanton I don't think Job proves that God takes anything from us. Althought I would like him to take some things away sometimes. And sometimes it's for our own Good.
Remember God loves us and will not do something to hurt us, but our advesary in the world walks around looking for something to steal and someone to kill.

I indeed believe God would give people things just because they ask. As long as it is within his will. But a stronger case would be to say that God doesn't give if you don't ask. And alot of asking has todo with how you come to him and how you ask him.
I recieved greatly in some aspects. And he did answer. I think if you greatly desire something he also answers/gives more abundantly.

But remember the story about having faith as big as a seed and moving a mountain.
Well I think in too much a way we have underminded that! We cut it down in so many ways. Well it might not be in God will to reshape the landscape but it might be in his will to give you a big house or raise somebody from the dead or something else which seems impossible. We must trust GOD! He is the almighty God that made the whole universe in 6 days afterall! I think he can actually manage to get you something small like a house. Or even something important like a soul mate hey?

May ya find the faith to recieve the blessings from the Lord!

 

[The Midge]

How can God owe me anything? He owns me!

 

[CeCe]

How can God owe me anything? He owns me!

AMEN!

I have faith in Him. In the good and the bad. He told us we would have tribulation in this world. And we do. Things don't always go our way. Sometimes we can't understand or make sense of it. But He will never forsake us.
I trust in Him. His plan. His Will.

I may not always get what I want or what I think I need. But by His grace, I won't get what I deserve.

 

[Unquenchable]

... check your heart and where you motivations are.

I agree with what Blanton and some of the others have been saying.

I wasnt at all intending to be rude, with my last post, but the first few posts are very much from a selfish point of view, meaning the focus is on themselves rather than God.

"Hey, hasn't God promised to provide for us? Didn't He say, 'ask and you shall receive'?... Then what on earth is going on?!"

We could start talking about asking for things in accordance with God's Will, in relation to why not all prayers are answered the way we wish or hope, but it could get very messy.

Now, do you think it would be fair to tell this family that God doesn't owe them anything and they shouldn't be upset with Him?

I dont expect non-Christians to feel God is fair... but Christians should understand that we dont deserve any salvation from God, and that is why it is referred to as GRACE.

God doesnt owe that family anything, although he may provide for them in different ways. I perhaps wouldnt use the line Amy suggested, because it really isnt going to encourage them.

I think it was beautifully said in a few posts down- God doesnt owe me, He owns me!

 

[endure]

amy quoted

"ask and you shall receive,"

and said

"If I tell you, "I will give you a car," and then when you show up at my door and ask for it, I say, "I don't owe you anything" - something is wrong with this picture. Don't you think?... "

if God made a promise, he will keep his promise.
if God went out of his way so much and highly esteemed me enough to make me a promise, he esteems me highly enough to not think it robbery for him to owe me the keeping of that promise. if i meet the terms...
God does owe me the keeping of that promise... not becuase im ME or because IM SOMEBODY or anything like that but because he loves me and honors his word.
the bible says "is there unrighteousness with God? GOD FORBID!"
God doesnt break his word, God is not a liar. and when he makes us a promise even he considers himself to owe it to us to keep his part.
we mere humans who dont even know what righteousness without God know what it means to keep a promise to someone, how much more does God know the responsibility to keep his word.
God does owe us things when he reaches out his hand toward us offers us something and says "come...ill give you this" and when we come to him and seek him according to the terms (not being proud or whatever) he will not remove his hand and say "no...never mind you cant have it" if he did he would be wrong, but God is not wrong. and he will not do that.
in malachi God says "test me and see!"
God knows what it is to enter into an agreement, a covenant of agreement, we are in the new covenant!
he made us promises.
in more than one place in the bible God honored his word and blessed people and saved his people , NOT BECUASE THESE PEOPLE WERE DOING RIGHT...but because of the promises and he made them and the covenants and for the sake of his name in the earth.
God would say something to the extent of
"this isnt for you, but for my names sake so the heathen dont blaspheme me and my name isnt a reproach"
God honors word to any and all people, and will keep his word, even if its only to prove, to make known, or to reassure to all peoples that he is a keeper of his word.
when God enters into an agreement with a person he owes them the keeping of the promise.
he wouldnt owe us anything if he had never made an agreement, but he did when he made us promises.
If God is willing to come to us and enter into a partnership with us, he does esteem us highly enough to think it not robbery to commit himself unto us and promise the keeping of his word.
God OWING us something isnt saying we ever have an upper hand on God...
but i think its simply describing an obligation to someone, and he enters into this obligation when he promises to keep his word.

though if we do neglect and break the terms, the agreement is void and he is not obligated to do that.

When God himself lowered himself and wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the feet of people who had walked through mud and dung...
he proved that he is not a God that is not willing to consider us highly enough to come and serve us as if he was a servant unto us...
i mean, whichever one of us ever got what you deserved?
that proves that God waits on you and washes your feet everyday and acts like your servant everyday of your life.
i think the point amy was trying to make was that God esteemed us highly enough to make partnerships and agreements with us, and he does not consider it robbery to be commited and obligated to keep his word to us.

for a man to say "ok...i know i said that but i dont have to keep my word" would be wrong for anyone, even more for the man who is more holy than anyone else.

ya know we dont like to hear that becuase we think were filthy nasty sinners... but we arent, we are the very righteousness of God.
that word propitiation literally means to atone for, or to make right.
God made us right, we are a right people, we are not wrong and sinful.
and it also means to simply propitiate which literally means to make one favorable. we are favorable to God.
any loving grandfather or father or mother who promises a child a christmas gift, feels withen themselves the obligation to that child and does feel they owe that child the keeping of the promise because they favor us and love us so dearly.
and we dont even know how to love...how much more does God feel this?

also, the prodigal son came back to the father, and the son wanted to just be a servant who doesnt deserve or isnt owed anything, but the father wouldnt have it that way.
the boy got a robe, the boy got a ring, and they killed the fatted calf and had a party as if he deserved it.
the father was willing to restore us disbodient son to a place where he could come boldly before his throne and not have the slightest doubt that the father would refuse his request.
i mean, if we can come BOLDLY before the thrown of grace... where does this mindset that God doesnt owe us or isnt obligated to us fit.
we have a right to boldy request things from God...
were not poppers or peasants who God loves but rationed and made to live on the outskirts of the city.

we arent to consider our unworthiness when coming before God.
it isnt pride, but it is the faith in God. he did say these things.