August 6, 2006
You Gotta Believe
This week’s Business and The Bible quote comes from Matthew 17:20:
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
What it means to me:
One of the keys to success is having the confidence to persist through adversity. Often that adversity will come from the people who are closest to you. Your well intentioned friends and family members will often discourage you from following your dreams. In most cases they honestly believe that this is in your best interest.
When this happens you will need to turn somewhere else for your strength. Having faith that God will provide you with the direction and guidance you need will pull you through the difficult times.
Trust in God and believe in yourself and anything is possible.
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I was with you until I read this line “Trust in God and believe in yourself and anything is possible.” You added to scripture. You aught not do that. Scripture doesn’t say.. believe in yourself. Scripture says…if you have faith the size of a mustard seed (that’s faith in God not in yourself), then nothing will be impossible for you.
Comment by ladysown — August 9, 2006 @ 10:12
Thanks for your thoughts.
I did not reference that line as coming directly from scripture. That was my interpretation of the passage. As with everything else on this site, I included my commentary.
Of course, you are welcome to your opinion but I’m not sure why you would be offended with encouraging people to believe in themselves - or even with a positive interpretation of scripture.
Comment by Dave Lorenzo — August 9, 2006 @ 12:35
Dave, what I am offended by is the adding to scripture. our belief in ourselves or in our own ability is not what gets things done, and that is what you implied. Scripture does not tell us in any way that we need to believe in ourselves and what we can do. It tells us over and over and over again, that ALL we need is to trust GOD. Not ourselves, not what we can do, not in what others can do, but in GOD alone. When people add that, it’s simply wrong and I need to speak up then. IF you want to encourage people to be wise in their endeavors and to follow through, there are other scripture passages you could have used to better put forth your thoughts…heb 12, proverbs, psalms etc.
Encouraging people to believe in themselves.. ah… how do I put this. I’d rather encourage them to believe in what God can do through them. And how they are to do the best they can with the gifts and abilities that God has given them. I do not want to encourage pride in themselves, but do want to encourage their dependence in and thankfulness to God. For without God, we are nothing.
Comment by ladysown — August 9, 2006 @ 14:50
Ladysown,
Thanks again for engaging in the dialogue. I appreciate and respect your beliefs.
I stated the passage exactly as it is written in the new international version of The Bible. I then offered my interpretation of it.
The readers are free to interpret it as they see fit - just as you and I have done.
It was not my intention to use this passage to encourage people to sin. Rather, I intended to provide it to the readers to help them realize the strength that was available to them in the power of belief in the Lord and a belief in the gifts God has given them.
Faith is personal. Each of us must approach our relationship with God in our own way.
It is wrong for one person to impose their beliefs on others.
Dave
Comment by Dave Lorenzo — August 9, 2006 @ 17:47