If God is so satisfying...

[alexiscurious]

If God is more satisfying than anything else, why do people pursue other things?

I'm still trying to fully comprehend why someone would knowingly disobey God when they are well aware of the fact that they owe their entire existence to him and they know that he knows what is best for them. I understand that Christians today believe that man is currently broken, sinning is a part of our nature, and that disobeying God is an inevitable and inescapable part of human life.

But before sinning was ever an issue, why did Adam/Eve do it? Why did Satan do it? Where is the logic in it? I don't see it. Some say Satan was selfish and only cared about himself. But I don't think people who only care about themself would do something that hurts them. I don't think Satan is secretly laughing inside gloating about how great the decision he made was.

 

[oi_antz]

If God is more satisfying than anything else, why do people pursue other things?

I'm still trying to fully comprehend why someone would knowingly disobey God when they are well aware of the fact that they owe their entire existence to him and they know that he knows what is best for them. I understand that Christians today believe that man is currently broken, sinning is a part of our nature, and that disobeying God is an inevitable and inescapable part of human life.

But before sinning was ever an issue, why did Adam/Eve do it? Why did Satan do it? Where is the logic in it? I don't see it. Some say Satan was selfish and only cared about himself. But I don't think people who only care about themself would do something that hurts them. I don't think Satan is secretly laughing inside gloating about how great the decision he made was.

Read about Jacob and Esau. Why do we cut blind corners on the road when we think there is nobody coming the other way, though the risk is so great and the reward so small?

 

[dysert]

It's about pride and wanting something more. Adam & Eve wanted to be like God (the serpent's promise). Satan wanted to be superior to God. Unfortunately, it's human (and some angels') nature to always want to be in control. But since God is the only one truly in control, we pay a steep price when we try to usurp His authority.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

If God is more satisfying than anything else, why do people pursue other things?

I'm still trying to fully comprehend why someone would knowingly disobey God when they are well aware of the fact that they owe their entire existence to him and they know that he knows what is best for them. I understand that Christians today believe that man is currently broken, sinning is a part of our nature, and that disobeying God is an inevitable and inescapable part of human life.

But before sinning was ever an issue, why did Adam/Eve do it? Why did Satan do it? Where is the logic in it? I don't see it. Some say Satan was selfish and only cared about himself. But I don't think people who only care about themself would do something that hurts them. I don't think Satan is secretly laughing inside gloating about how great the decision he made was.

Or...Satan rebelled because He was 'convinced' He could improve upon what God had planned, much in the same way atheists believe Christianity is deficient and should be replaced by 'better,' more 'logical' ways of thinking and existing.

 

[alexiscurious]

Read about Jacob and Esau. Why do we cut blind corners on the road when we think there is nobody coming the other way, though the risk is so great and the reward so small?

Because it's easier?

I don't see how this relates to my question though.

 

[Hakan101]

Satan was the most powerful being ever created. He was basically second in command to God. But with all that power he grew jealous and wanted more, probably the last bit of power he didn't have, aka being the greatest, or having the power of creation. So he rebelled against God. When God created Adam and appointed Adam as the new person to have dominion over the earth, Satan wanted to destroy Adam and reclaim control over the earth. So he tempted Eve to sin first, then use Eve to get to Adam, and so they both listened to his lies and gave in to temptation instead of trusting the Lord.

Satan actually believed he could defeat God and become higher than God. For the longest time he believed that. But after Jesus paid the price for us all, Satan was cast out of heaven and he knows his days are numbered. Christ's sacrifice gave both mankind victory over Satan, and the angels power over Satan, because Christ is Lord of all. So now Satan wants to take as many souls as he can with him into the lake of fire.

 

[alexiscurious]

It's about pride and wanting something more. Adam & Eve wanted to be like God (the serpent's promise). Satan wanted to be superior to God. Unfortunately, it's human (and some angels') nature to always want to be in control. But since God is the only one truly in control, we pay a steep price when we try to usurp His authority.

Sorry, I don't see any of their actions as logical. No one would ever do this.

 

[oi_antz]

Because it's easier?

I don't see how this relates to my question though.

You should look deeper into what 'easier' is in this case. It involves cost and comfort. I am suggesting that Adam and Eve's decision was similarly motivated, as was Esau's deal for Jacob's soup. It is just human nature, is all I am saying. I really should be asking you to explain where you are coming from!

 

[alexiscurious]

Satan was the most powerful being ever created. He was basically second in command to God. But with all that power he grew jealous and wanted more, probably the last bit of power he didn't have, aka being the greatest, or having the power of creation. So he rebelled against God.

How does rebelling against God help him achieve his goal of having control? If Satan was the most powerful being created, then surely he must of had powerful intellect as well. I don't think he would be stupid enough to pull a stunt like this.

When God created Adam and appointed Adam as the new person to have dominion over the earth, Satan wanted to destroy Adam and reclaim control over the earth. So he tempted Eve to sin first, then use Eve to get to Adam, and so they both listened to his lies and gave in to temptation instead of trusting the Lord.

So Satan who has generously been granted life by God suddenly acts out to destroy him and his creation? I don't see reason for him to do this either.

Satan actually believed he could defeat God and become higher than God. For the longest time he believed that. But after Jesus paid the price for us all, Satan was cast out of heaven and he knows his days are numbered. Christ's sacrifice gave both mankind victory over Satan, and the angels power over Satan, because Christ is Lord of all. So now Satan wants to take as many souls as he can with him into the lake of fire.

Doesn't make sense, sorry. This sounds like the thinking of a full fledged moron not the second most powerful being in the universe.

 

[Hakan101]

How does rebelling against God help him achieve his goal of having control? If Satan was the most powerful being created, then surely he must of had powerful intellect as well. I don't think he would be stupid enough to pull a stunt like this.

Believe it. He certainly had intellect. That's how he was able to accomplish so much evil and destruction thus far. He's a serpent, a master manipulator, deceiver, teller of lies. Think about the sheer intelligence Satan must possess to have even fathomed the idea of defeating God. He was overconfident in his own abilities. But intelligence does not equal wisdom. Satan was a fool for thinking he could ever outsmart God.

So Satan who has generously been granted life by God suddenly acts out to destroy him and his creation? I don't see reason for him to do this either.

You can't think of any examples in history when somebody is given power and does not use it righteously, but for their own selfish desires? Satan was appointed the highest created being. He was number one among us. But to God he was always number two. At some point he decided if he could get all of creation to follow him instead of God, he could become number one.

Doesn't make sense, sorry. This sounds like the thinking of a full fledged moron not the second most powerful being in the universe.

Again, intelligence does not equal wisdom. As foolish as it seems in hindsight, it's perfectly plausible for such a powerful created being to desire and believe they can overcome their creator. It's prideful, arrogant, and it's wrong, but it still happened.

 

[Hospes]

If God is more satisfying than anything else, why do people pursue other things?

Your question presupposes we always act rationally. No one does. Unintentionally, you are pointing out that sin is ultimately irrational.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Sorry, I don't see any of their actions as logical. No one would ever do this.

I disagree. I can easily see people doing that with the fruit of the tree and being tempted.

Look at all God did for the people of Israel, yet they would continually turn from him eventually to resume sinning again. There is no easy answer on WHY people tend to do that. We can all just hope to aspire to reach the level where we ignore temptation. I am able to do so now easier than I was ten, twenty years ago because of growth and working on it.