PREAMBLE;
I have most often read people argue between Work and Faith in preponderant matters of destiny.
While some believe work is more preponderant to destiny than faith, others say faith is the ultimate to destiny but there is definitely an intersection between them biblically and in life reality
1. Definitions by schools of thought;
Destiny according to Google is the future or path that is meant for someone. It is what is supposed to happen. This is a religion, and faith inclined theism view.
But according to Realist school of thought, destiny is a matter of choice but not chance. It is not something you wait for but something you achieve by choice.
Religion believes destiny is more of Faith in God and it is decided from birth for an individual to gradually fall into at its appointed times.
So it believes destiny is by divine arrangement and you wait for it at appointed time
Ecclesiastes 3:2
Bible says “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
2, A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot…”
2. In true life situations, there is no particular line of realizing destiny,
Destiny may come both as predetermined, inevitable course of events, an ultimate destination or life purpose as well it may often occur randomly, and by chance in unexpected moments. It may or may not involve favorable or unfavorable events within or outside your control
Religion view;
Religion sees destiny as the exclusive act of the Almighty God who plans human future along destiny through faith in him.
Hebrews 11 states evidences of fathers of faith like Abraham, Isaac, Mary and Hanna whose destinies were based on faith in God
Ecclesiastes 9;11 corroborates faith by stating that:
Ecclesiastes 9:11 KJV
“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to the man of understandings but
time and chance happen to them all”
That means there is a time that God planned for every individual to achieve destinies in life not by work or struggles.
Romans 9:16 KJV – So then it is not of him that willeth
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Realist view;
But the realist believe that destiny cannot be achieved except by intentions and hard work through plans.
To a realist, faith and miracles do not provide your destiny but it is an avoidable risk only where necessary actions can be put into life.
Realist believe our actions are preponderant to our achievements and not vice versa.
If you fail to plan, you will plan to fail.
Great leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Lionel Messi, Malcolm X, Elon musk didn’t wait on faith but they studied to acquire skills and have the requisite knowledge to make influence fame and money.
So a realist believes solely in works towards destiny realization.
3. THE INTERSECTION LINE;
Bible says in James 2;17
“Faith without work is dead”
This phrase refers to the biblical principle that genuine belief must be backed by tangible action.
It means that if your proclaimed faith does not result in good deeds, love, and service to others, it is considered lifeless and inactive. Understanding this dynamic provides a helpful perspective on how the Bible connects belief and behavior
To believe in God without demonstrating it is likened to a hollow promise.
James compares it to telling a starving, freezing person “I wish you well” without actually giving them food or clothes.
The Bible teaches that salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not earned by good works. However, these good works are the evidence of a changed life and genuine saving faith.
The Balance;
James 2:26: “For as the body without the spirit is dead,
So faith without works is dead also.”
Just as breath animates the body, actions bring faith to life. even though Bible says in
Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV-
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
It only means works do not earn salvation, but work remains the natural byproduct and
physical proof of a committed, loving relationship with God and to humanity.
Even in salvation, we are advised to work out our salvation with fears and trembling.
Philippians 2:12
“Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but
now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation”
The only condition where our work is not required for destiny is in giving all glory to God
who gives the power even to make the wealth and not in our own efforts.
Even in the parable of the talents, Matthew 25;14-15 while others traded with their talents, one with one buried his own. Not only out of envy but of ignorance, laziness and lack of appreciation.
God has deposited in us from birth several talents we will need to make wealth and when we fail to
develop them in anticipation of miracles, we shall equally be condemned in heaven.
4. CONCLUSION
As Bible puts it in ;
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
King James Version
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that
giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his
own reward according to his own labour.
This affirms conclusively that we need both faith and work to achieve destiny.
This should be a new mindset for lazy believers who rely more on miracles than work to
earn their living .
No wonder the non-believers today are developing more in industries and in politics
than believers and the non-believers are controlling the greater wealth of nations.
That forms the major reason why Jesus declared in
Luke 16:8
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; for the
children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
