Where do you draw the line????????????

[newyorknewyork]

God says he will provide for us.. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and the verses about God feeding even the sparrows.. and how much more important to Him we are.. etc. AWESOME VERSES!

When it comes to being married and wanting to have children and planning ahead for the future to financially raise these children we want to have... how do you draw the line between trusting God that He will provide and being responsible to provide for your family so that you do have enough finances to raise children????

Like what I mean is... how do you know if you are being lazy and irresponsible by saying "ok God, you say you will provide.. we are going to get pregnant and trust that you will provide"

and how do you know if you are not trusting God by saying "ok God, I know you say you will provide, but kids cost a lot of money and I'm really scared about how much $$$$$$ it will cost to have a big family.. so I'm going to put off having kids for 10 years.. "

Where do you draw the line between trusting God and being responsible?

 

[Mind_Over_Matter]

God says he will provide for us.. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and the verses about God feeding even the sparrows.. and how much more important to Him we are.. etc. AWESOME VERSES!

When it comes to being married and wanting to have children and planning ahead for the future to financially raise these children we want to have... how do you draw the line between trusting God that He will provide and being responsible to provide for your family so that you do have enough finances to raise children????

Like what I mean is... how do you know if you are being lazy and irresponsible by saying "ok God, you say you will provide.. we are going to get pregnant and trust that you will provide"

and how do you know if you are not trusting God by saying "ok God, I know you say you will provide, but kids cost a lot of money and I'm really scared about how much $$$$$$ it will cost to have a big family.. so I'm going to put off having kids for 10 years.. "

Where do you draw the line between trusting God and being responsible?

Despite what people believe, God does not work with you directly. This proverb demonstrates this:
"A man was trapped on his roof when there was a great flood. A raft came by and asked the man if he would like help. The man turned down this help proclaiming God would save him. Two hours later a boat came by and overed help. Once again the man turned down the help claiming God would save him. When his chances were getting very slim a Helicopter came by and offered the man help. The man again refused help and as a result ended up drowning. The man reached heaven and asked God why he didn't save him. God replied i sent you a raft a boat and a helicopter, what else could you want?"

The general moral of this story is that you already know if you could afford a kid or not. Are you living paycheck to paycheck and are unable to save any money what so ever? Are you in credit card debt and unable to keep up with the bills? If this is the case you are unlikely able to afford a kid, without a lifestyle change. Likewise are you keeping up with your bills and able to put a small amount in savings away each month? When an unexpected situation such as needing to buy new tires for your car come up, can you afford the tires? If this is the case you likely will have no trouble affording a kid.

 

[Johnnz]

Jesus was teaching about perspective. Some people are motivated by materialism (possession, status etc) or apperances. Jesus was teaching against making such things the centre of our lives.

Of course we are to work hard, to be provident and to be responsible for those we care for. Just don't let those things get out of perspective and become a substitute for a daily dependance on God.

John
NZ

 

[Silent Enigma]

Where do you draw the line between trusting God and being responsible?

The truth lies in between the two extremes that people take these things to.

 

[DarkCloud]

tsuriyel, good for you in thinking things out before making a decision. Don't just have kids just to have them--that is just as bad as a 13 year old getting pregnant. You need to think if you can afford and provide for them.

I'm not too big on the "God will provide" sayings (see my own personal account); the reason being, is it just common sense not true. In some places, children starve to death before they are 3 years old. I think the God will provide sayings cannot be taken literally, and should be thought of in a spiritual sense, not in a reality sense.

Anyway, I think the best advice was already given, "you already know if you could afford a kid or not."

 

[newyorknewyork]

I think the God will provide sayings cannot be taken literally, and should be thought of in a spiritual sense, not in a reality sense.

Can I ask what you mean by this?

thank you everyone for your responses and thoughts

 

[DarkCloud]

I think the God will provide sayings cannot be taken literally, and should be thought of in a spiritual sense, not in a reality sense.
Can I ask what you mean by this?

Certainly. It means that I differentiate between spiritual needs and physical needs. And the saying that "God will provide" refers to spiritual needs, but not physical. I demonstrated in my last post that physical needs are not provided for; this much is obvious and common sense. Therefore, it must be spiritual needs that are the ones provided for, otherwise scripture wouldn't make any sense.

 

[qh93536]

God says he will provide for us.. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and the verses about God feeding even the sparrows.. and how much more important to Him we are.. etc. AWESOME VERSES!

When it comes to being married and wanting to have children and planning ahead for the future to financially raise these children we want to have... how do you draw the line between trusting God that He will provide and being responsible to provide for your family so that you do have enough finances to raise children????

Like what I mean is... how do you know if you are being lazy and irresponsible by saying "ok God, you say you will provide.. we are going to get pregnant and trust that you will provide"

and how do you know if you are not trusting God by saying "ok God, I know you say you will provide, but kids cost a lot of money and I'm really scared about how much $$$$$$ it will cost to have a big family.. so I'm going to put off having kids for 10 years.. "

Where do you draw the line between trusting God and being responsible?

Those scriptures are conditional. They do not apply to all. They only apply to those who have given themselves completely to God. If you fall into that catagory, then you need to trust him implicitly and have complete faith in his desire and ability to supply your every need. He always seems slow, but is always right on time. So, it may be a real test of patience and trust.

 

[Anti Existance]

Its easy,there's 2 things.

1. things you can't control. (leave it in Gods hands)
2. things you can control. (do it yourself)

You must be the master over your own life, if you give the power away while you could have been in control yourself, then your nothing more then a aimless log a drift on a waterfall ready to crush and make a long fall.

Think/act for yourself or put your life in someone elses hands.

hmmmm when judgement comes i just might use this.

God: What have you done with the life i gave to you.
me : I laid my life in your hands.
God: But you didn't do a thing.
me : But you where never around. =)

ugh im going to hell. ...

 

[newyorknewyork]

hmmmm when judgement comes i just might use this.

God: What have you done with the life i gave to you.
me : I laid my life in your hands.
God: But you didn't do a thing.
me : But you where never around. =)

ugh im going to hell. ...

I doubt God would would say "you never did a thing" and even if He did, I doubt you (right in front of Almighty God Himself) would truly say "but you were never around"

 

[Mskedi]

Children are expensive, but I think some people spend a lot more on them than necessary and can handle it with some lifestyle changes.

My parents, for one, had only one car, made all our food from scratch, didn't buy us many toys (LEGOs weren't as expensive then, and that and a deck of cards are really all you need), used cloth diapers, played with us outside, taught us to read, and took us to museums (usually the entrance fee is minimal for adults and free for children -- it was fun, cheap, and both entertaining and educational). There were four of us kids, and I think the most my parents ever made in a year combined was $35,000. More often it was under $30,000.

It was crowded, and we didn't have a lot, but we had what we needed.

I think it's a lot more important to worry over being emotionally ready for children than financially ready.

 

[jacquidube]

Children are expensive, but I think some people spend a lot more on them than necessary and can handle it with some lifestyle changes.

My parents, for one, had only one car, made all our food from scratch, didn't buy us many toys (LEGOs weren't as expensive then, and that and a deck of cards are really all you need), used cloth diapers, played with us outside, taught us to read, and took us to museums (usually the entrance fee is minimal for adults and free for children -- it was fun, cheap, and both entertaining and educational). There were four of us kids, and I think the most my parents ever made in a year combined was $35,000. More often it was under $30,000.

It was crowded, and we didn't have a lot, but we had what we needed.

I think it's a lot more important to worry over being emotionally ready for children than financially ready.

I agree, its all about LOVE and that is free. you will survive, even the ones who say they wont survive DO.

 

[newyorknewyork]

Children are expensive, but I think some people spend a lot more on them than necessary and can handle it with some lifestyle changes.

My parents, for one, had only one car, made all our food from scratch, didn't buy us many toys (LEGOs weren't as expensive then, and that and a deck of cards are really all you need), used cloth diapers, played with us outside, taught us to read, and took us to museums (usually the entrance fee is minimal for adults and free for children -- it was fun, cheap, and both entertaining and educational). There were four of us kids, and I think the most my parents ever made in a year combined was $35,000. More often it was under $30,000.

It was crowded, and we didn't have a lot, but we had what we needed.

I think it's a lot more important to worry over being emotionally ready for children than financially ready.

thank you, that makes a lot of sense

 

[newyorknewyork]

thanks everyone for your thoughts

 

[~Beauty_from_Pain~]

Yes, God does provide....and he provided the brain that we have. We are expected to use it! When we have done everything we can, then that is when we must leave it in God's hands and wait on Him.