The Purpose of Providence

The doctrine of providence teaches us that God is in control of all things at all times and in all places. As someone once said, if it’s happening, it’s being managed. The sovereign God is always in the driver’s seat and he’s always taking his children to a good destination.

The Heidelberg Catechism gives four good reasons why God reveals this doctrine in the Bible. All these reasons are concrete and practical.

First of all, he gives us this doctrine so we would acknowledge him in all our ways. In QA 27, the Catechism lists all those things, “leaf and blade” and so on, and then it says that these things come not by chance, but by his Fatherly hand. As Christians, we should acknowledge that at all times. Because we love God and want to honour him, we should be careful in our speaking. We ought never to give the impression that we believe in luck or chance. There is no such thing. Therefore words such as “luck” and “lucky” ought to be thrown in the rubbish bin for Christians. It’s odd how we’d never dream of taking God’s name in vain, but many of us don’t think twice about speaking about being lucky. It’s even more odd how many of us find expressions like “Oh my gosh” to be offensive, and yet still use the word “lucky” in everyday conversations. Proverbs 3:6 teaches us that we should acknowledge God in all our ways, and one way to do that is by getting rid of luck and instead speaking of God’s blessings in our lives. Do that, whether we speak with believers or unbelievers. Being conscientious about that would be honouring to our God, showing him and the people around us that we love him and take him seriously in our lives.

Second, the Catechism says this doctrine is designed to make us patient in adversity. When things go pear-shaped, this doctrine is there to make us patient. We can wait on God, knowing he has a purpose in this trial. If God is in control, we don’t have to throw a temper tantrum and impatiently demand the end of whatever it is that’s making life hard. He knows what he is doing, even if we don’t. In other words, this doctrine is designed to help us trust him through tears. We may be in a storm in the middle of the lake, but he who controls the waves and the wind will bring us through to the other side. Entrust yourself to him in adversity.

The flip side is where we find the third reason. Sometimes things go well in our lives. Sometimes things happen the way we prayed they would happen. Sometimes God even blesses us with things we never asked for – he just lavishly and graciously provides. At times like that, the worldly response is pride. When things go well for worldly people, they’re quick to take the credit for themselves. They boast about their accomplishments and think they deserve all the praise for making things turn out so well. Some Christians might do that too, forgetting entirely about God and his sovereign control. But other Christians might take a hybrid approach. God did his part – he gets some of the praise, but I did my part too and so I also deserve some praise. I can give God praise and be proud. I can share the credit with God. That’s really no better than the worldly approach. God is jealous for all the praise, all the thanksgiving. As the Bible says in 1 Cor. 1:31: let him who boasts, boast in the Lord, and in the Lord only. Soli Deo Gloria is the Latin expression you often hear, to God alone be the glory. That’s what needs to be firmly fixed in our minds and hearts. When God’s providence brings us prosperity, we give him thanks and all the credit. We bring him the praise and the glory. This doctrine is not meant to turn us inwards, but outwards. It’s not meant to keep our eyes on earth, on the horizontal, but to direct them up to heaven, to the vertical.

Finally, this doctrine is designed for us as we consider what the future holds. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow or any day for that matter. Tragedy could strike. A loved one could be taken away by death. Someone you really trusted might disappoint you and let you down. But there may also be good in the days ahead. Sometimes smooth sailing can distract us from where our focus needs to be. In Prov. 30, Agur prays to God and asks only for what he needs. Only give me what I need, he prays, “lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’” He looks to the future and he knows to whom he must look. He must look to God with confidence today and always. So it is with us. This doctrine of providence is there so, as we look to the future, we’re committed to placing our trust in our faithful God and Father. Whether what lays ahead are hard times or good times, we want to be focussed on him only, trusting in his love, and walking in his ways.

The doctrine of providence is comfort food for pilgrims on their way to the heavenly Jerusalem. It encourages us to know that our lives are in good, wise, and powerful hands. Because of what Christ has done for us, our loving Father cannot and will not let go. It’s our calling to acknowledge these gospel truths in how we speak, act, and think, both in good times and bad.