"Work as if everything depends on you, pray as if everything depends on God."
Is is scriptural?
Is it valid?
Does is devalue God's sovereignty?
Is it a great motto to live by?
Something else?
(p.s., I'm not extremely fond of it)
I would appreciate your thoughts...
I’ll respond to this statement, within your questions broken up into the two parts of the quote, 1st
Work as if everything depends on you
and 2nd
pray as if everything depends on God
1st:
Is it scriptural?
I would suggest that it makes an assertion that we should work under our own power. I’d say this is futile. We should desire to be within the will of God and working towards his end. I am not sure what the ‘work’ that’s being addressed is. However, I look to Ephesians 1:19, and find “..what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might” it is His, Gods power that works, and this is in the context of Paul discussing his praying for the saints at Ephesus after having discussed that Christ works all things to the counsel of His will, Eph 1:11. This said, we are of course to work, we have a role in our sanctification, Phil 2:12, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation in fear in trembling” but what’s the qualification given… Phil 2:13, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and do for his good pleasure.” So, I’d say the statement is misleading, but not necessarily wrong. Were called to work, and should work diligently, but should not rely on our own strength, our strength is nothing (Job 38 AND 39, then ready Job 40:3 … hummm).
Is it valid?
I think I’m pressed to say standing alone outside of any context it could go either way. I don’t think who ever said it is necessarily wrong, I believe you could say this and have a high view of sovereignty, however, I believe someone could easily interpret it to say that the power to do this work should come from us. So, I'd say use it carefully if at all, and qualify it.
Does is devalue God's sovereignty?
It could, again depends upon the context it's delivered in we should not let the pendulum shouldn’t swing so far in the direction of fatalism that we don’t feel motivated to 'work' and we also shouldn’t rely on our selves.
Is it a great motto to live by?
No. I think we should live by the Word of God, not clever sayings, John 6:35.
2nd:
pray as if everything depends on God
Is is scriptural?
Sure, everything DOES depend on God (Heb 1:2/3 “through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power”) (Col 1:17 “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together”)
Is it valid?
The statement “as if” throws me, it qualifies everything’s dependence on God, I think it attempts to encourage prayer that RECOGNIZES Gods sovereignty, but I’d probably word it differently or wrap it in a complete context.
Does is devalue God's sovereignty?
Depending upon how it’s received by the hearer it could.
Is it a great motto to live by?
I echo my answer to this question above.
