Role of Providence in Human Success and Prosperity
The concept of providence is central to understanding the role of God in human success and prosperity. Providence refers to God's care and governance over His creation, guiding events to achieve His purposes [1]. This doctrine is rooted in biblical teachings, with various passages illustrating God's providential involvement in the natural world, human affairs, and individual lives.
In the biblical narrative, providence is often associated with God's preservation and provision for His creatures. For instance, Psalm 104:14 and Acts 14:17 highlight God's role in providing for the natural world, while Matthew 6:26 and 10:29 demonstrate His care for the brute creation. Moreover, God's providence extends to human affairs, influencing the actions of individuals and nations (1 Chronicles 16:31; Psalm 47:7; Proverbs 21:1) [1].
The biblical account also illustrates how God's providence operates in the lives of believers. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, God's providence involves preserving, providing for, prospering, protecting, delivering, and leading His saints [2]. For example, Psalm 37:28 and 91:11 demonstrate God's special preservation of saints, while Genesis 24:48, 56 shows God prospering them.
Different Christian traditions have interpreted the role of providence in human success and prosperity in various ways. The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes that God's providence directs seemingly casual events, such as the casting of lots, to achieve His purposes [4]. Similarly, the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as seen in Adam Clarke's commentary, highlights the intricate workings of providence in the lives of individuals, such as Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10 [3].
The Presbyterian tradition, as represented by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, underscores the significance of wisdom in the economy of creation and providence, encouraging believers to seek this attribute [5]. All these traditions agree that God's providence is not limited to grand, sweeping events but is also involved in the minutest details of human life.
One of the key aspects of providence is its role in shaping human decisions and actions. According to Proverbs 16:9 and 19:21, God's providence orders the ways of men, guiding their steps towards His intended outcomes [2]. This understanding is echoed in the commentary of Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:33, where he notes that God's providence directs those things that appear casual and fortuitous to humans [4].
The interplay between divine providence and human agency is complex. While God's providence is sovereign, human decisions and actions are still significant. As Adam Clarke comments on Esther 4:14, Mordecai's confidence in divine providence did not preclude his expectation that Esther would take action to save their people [6]. This nuanced understanding of providence and human agency is a common thread across the traditions represented in the sources.
The biblical account of providence also highlights its role in bringing about deliverance and salvation. Psalm 107:33 illustrates how God's providence can bring about surprising changes in human circumstances, turning barrenness into fruitfulness and vice versa [7]. This understanding is reinforced by the commentary of Matthew Henry on Romans 5:1, where he notes that justification by faith brings peace with God, which is a foundation for the believer's experience of providence [8].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Providence of God, The — Is his care over his works -- Ps 145:9. Is exercised in Preserving his creatures. -- Ne 9:6; Ps 36:6; Mt 10:29. Providing for his creatures. -- Ps 104:27,28; 136:25; 147:9; Mt 6:26. The special preservation of saints. -- Ps 37:28; 91:11; Mt 10:30. Prospering saints. -- Ge 24:48,56. Protecting saints. -- Ps 91:4; 140:7. Delivering saints. -- Ps 91:3; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 63:12. Bringing His words to pass. -- Nu 26:65; Jos 21:45; Lu 21:32,33. Ordering the ways of men. -- Pr 16:9; 19”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 10:17: While Peter doubted - the men - stood before the gate - In all this we find an admirable display of the economy of Providence. Cornelius prays, and has a vision which prepares him to receive instruction from Peter: Peter prays, and has a vision which prepares and disposes him to give instruction to Cornelius. While he is in doubts and perplexity what the full meaning of the vision might be, the messengers, who had been despatched under the guidance of an especial Providence, came to the door; and the Holy Spirit gives him information that his doubts should be all cle”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:33: Note, 1. The divine Providence orders and directs those things which to us are perfectly casual and fortuitous. Nothing comes to pass by chance, nor is an event determined by a blind fortune, but every thing by the will and counsel of God. What man has neither eye nor hand in God is intimately concerned in. 2. When solemn appeals are made to Providence by the casting of lots, for the deciding of that matter of moment which could not otherwise be at all, or not so well, decided, God must be eyed in it, by prayer, that it may be disposed aright (Give a perfect lo”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 3:19: The place of wisdom in the economy of creation and providence commends it to men, who, in proportion to their finite powers, may possess this invaluable attribute, and are thus encouraged by the divine example of its use to seek its possession.”
- Esther (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Esther 4:14: Then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise - He had a confidence that deliverance would come by some means; and he thought that Esther would be the most likely; and that, if she did not use the influence which her providential station gave her, she would be highly culpable. And who knoweth whether thou art come - As if he had said, "Is it likely that Divine providence would have so distinguished thee, and raised thee from a state of abject obscurity, merely for thy own sake? Must it not have been on some public account! Did not he see what was coming? and ha”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 107:33: The psalmist, having given God the glory of the providential reliefs granted to persons in distress, here gives him the glory of the revolutions of providence, and the surprising changes it sometimes makes in the affairs of the children of men. I. He gives some instances of these revolutions. 1. Fruitful countries are made barren and barren countries are made fruitful. Much of the comfort of this life depends upon the soil in which our lot is cast. Now, (1.) The sin of man has often marred the fruitfulness of the soil and made it unserviceable, Psa 107:33, Psa 1”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 5:1: The precious benefits and privileges which flow from justification are such as should quicken us all to give diligence to make it sure to ourselves that we are justified, and then to take the comfort it renders to us, and to do the duty it calls for from us. The fruits of this tree of life are exceedingly precious. I. We have peace with God, Rom 5:1. It is sin that breeds the quarrel between us and God, creates not only a strangeness, but an enmity; the holy righteous God cannot in honour be at peace with a sinner while he continues under the guilt of sin. Justific”