Yahweh first, others second, us last

[Messianic Israelite]

That’s because given His powers, acting like a normal human tyrant seems an odd choice. He could have a better relationship with people and support them and instead He just shows up to complain after centuries of neglect.

Hi Kelly of the Phoenix. Good afternoon. You don't think Yahweh's supportive? How many years was Noah preaching and building the Ark for? 120 years. Over one century. You can be as supportive as you want, if people are bent on doing evil it won't profit anyone. At one point or another judgment has to come. Isaiah 26:9 says "...for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness."

 

[Heyo]

Hi Heyo. Good afternoon. Interesting concept. But just because one might be powerful, doesn't necessarily mean one is fortunate, does it? Ecclesiastes 1:18 says "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." There is none with more wisdom than Yahweh. I don't know why more people aren't sensitive to Yahweh's needs and wants. Yes Yahweh is powerful, but He is grieved every day with all the wickedness that is going on in this world. Read Psalm 7:11 "Elohim is a righteous judge, Yea, a Elohim that hath indignation every day." Does that sound like being fortunate to you. To be able to see all the evil that is going on in the world, you think that is something to be desired? Yahweh is spiritually rich, but in this world it seems He is poor. He doesn't have many followers. More and more people are turning away from faith.

What I am trying to say is this. Yahweh has needs, and His needs are far more important than our needs. And whose heart deserves comforting more than Yahweh's? You've no doubt read Genesis 6, how Yahweh's heart was grieved with all the wickedness in the world in Noah's time. It's my aim to comfort Yahweh, to prove to Yahweh they are still those trying to do His will and please Him the way He wants. Malachi 1:6 says "A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Yahweh of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?" Where is Yahweh's honor in this world? Most people are quick to accuse Yahweh, and not quick to bless Him.

No, Yahweh's needs matter most and being the most loving of all Beings, yet also having to uphold justice, Yahweh is very much alone. If it was not for a small remnant that seek to please Him, Yahweh would be terribly discouraged. Putting Yahweh first is a noble concept not simply because so few people do it, but because it's the right thing to do for the one who created us, cared for us and wants to bring us in to the Kingdom (2 Peter 3:9).

So, what is your explanation?

 

[Messianic Israelite]

My question would be, why is it wrong to please ourselves? So long as we are not hurting anyone, why should seeking pleasure be wrong?

I'm not saying be selfish, but it's pretty normal for humans to want to do things that make them happy. So why would I give up my happiness to please a deity I don't even worship? I see nothing noble about it.

Hi Ashoka. Good afternoon. You say it's pretty normal for humans to want to do things that make them happy. However, I have found that happiness comes from pleasing Yahweh, not from the worldly things that people do to make them happy. At least durable happiness. In terms of you worshipping another deity, well, I won't make this thread about why we should worship Yahweh, maybe that should be for a future thread. 2 Timothy 3:4 says "...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Yahweh". 2 Thessalonians 2:12 says "that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." They are many pleasures in this world, but how many of them are righteous pleasures? I'm not saying we can't do nice things for ourselves, however, when we put ourselves last I think this is a honourable concept and one in which we should instil in our children.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

I don't know where to start ...
The rules that I and my family and friends live by are not in any particular book, they are built up through life's experiences, learning to be empathetic, treating others as you would wish to be treated yourself. Meanwhile The Bible teaches you not to mix certain fabrics, not to work on the Sabbath, who to worship and plenty of other useless things.

Your opinion of what the average non-religious person would do in a life-death situation are purely anecdotal and in my experience, non-believers, instead of praying do useful things to save their own lives and lives of others.

Quoting your holy book does not impress non-believers; I'm sure if I quoted Sam Harris or Christopher Hitchens you would be equally unimpressed.

In my personal opinion, neither you nor I or anyone else needs the Christian God in our lives to be a moral person. Speaking as a former Christian and a survivor of childhood abuse, I don't need or want the Christian God in my life. I turned my life around for the better and I began to heal emotionally only after I renounced my belief in God and my Christian faith. It took me years to free myself from the Christian indoctrination I had been subjected to throughout my life, and it was very hard for me to break free of it all. I liken the experience of renouncing my belief and faith in God to being imprisoned, except that the door to my cell was always open and I was unaware that I could leave whenever I wanted to. I feel as though Christianity was a prison and I was trapped within it, but now that I've freed myself from it, I never want to go back. As far as I'm concerned, my experience of improving my life on my own without having faith in God and relying on God validates Penn Jillette's quote that a person doesn't need God in their life to be a moral person.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Yahweh has needs, and His needs are far more important than our needs.

Ants have needs. I don’t begrudge them their needs, especially if we can live harmoniously.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Hi 9-10ths_Penguin. Good afternoon. Interesting idea. However, we don't need to make up our own image of Yahweh. Yahweh's will, wants and desires are openly shown in His Word for all to view, read and study.

... which each reader interprets through their own lens, reflecting their own values and preconceptions.

When you say, for instance, that God is loving and caring, implicit in this is the idea that God meets your understanding of what "loving" and "caring" mean. Tell someone else to think of a loving and caring God and they'll build an image of God based on their understanding of these words, which won't be the same as yours.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Hi Kelly of the Phoenix. Good afternoon. You don't think Yahweh's supportive? How many years was Noah preaching and building the Ark for? 120 years. Over one century. You can be as supportive as you want, if people are bent on doing evil it won't profit anyone. At one point or another judgment has to come. Isaiah 26:9 says "...for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness."

He could have preached for 1000 years. There is no evidence in the story that there was any thought to where all the audience would stay in the ark. That tells me that God never planned on saving them.

 

[Ashoka]

Yahweh has needs, and His needs are far more important than our needs.

I'm really not trying to be a butt, but the truth is, I simply don't care about his needs. I'm not a Christian. And why is God so needy? I thought God didn't need anything.

Acts 17:25: And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

Hi Ashoka. Good afternoon. You say it's pretty normal for humans to want to do things that make them happy. However, I have found that happiness comes from pleasing Yahweh, not from the worldly things that people do to make them happy. At least durable happiness. In terms of you worshipping another deity, well, I won't make this thread about why we should worship Yahweh, maybe that should be for a future thread. 2 Timothy 3:4 says "...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Yahweh". 2 Thessalonians 2:12 says "that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." They are many pleasures in this world, but how many of them are righteous pleasures? I'm not saying we can't do nice things for ourselves, however, when we put ourselves last I think this is a honourable concept and one in which we should instil in our children.

It is honorable to help others, for sure. But at the same time, a healthy life is a life that puts yourself first, not others. You will burn yourself out trying to be there for others all the time. You have to care for your own well being. Yahweh doesn't want that. He is selfish and jealous and thinks only of himself. Why can't he put himself last and be humble?