Who Determines Your Future?

Sabermetrics or a Generous God?

Sabermetrics is the mathematical and statistical analysis of baseball records. Some have used sabermetrics to look at historical data in order to predetermine what team would win the pennant. Or, better yet, determine if the Cubs have a chance this year - NOT.

With the existence of super computers, it isn’t much of a stretch for someone to develop an algorithm that would predetermine the success of individuals in communities based on the history of where they live and how others in the area were raised – Extrapolating out to determine which communities would be worthy of tax dollars and health benefits.

Corporate America has its own set of criteria to predetermine who the winners will be without giving rise to a risky mathematical formula. The old saying that a commercial economy will eventually make the rich richer and the poor poorer uses a similar mentality of greed and hopelessness. Even the words that only the fit will survive, find its origin among similar thinking.

Christianity provides a completely different set of dynamics with its opposing views…

        Matthew 5:4-6 (NIV)

        Blessed are those who mourn,

        
      for they will be comforted. 
 

        Blessed are the meek,


              for they will inherit the earth. 
 

        Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

        
      for they will be filled.

The Bible points out that there is a mighty benefactor looking out for those who can’t help themselves. This demonstration of grace is nothing shy of a miracle from a very generous God. Even in the case where an “angel” has helped an entrepreneur get a new business up and running, the financial risk is based on a form of gracious generosity in keeping with a loving God. In other words, the giver or investor is merely the extended hand of the almighty benefactor.

The reality is that none of us are self-made. Every one of us received help at some point in our lives that got us to the next level. This is true whether it took the form of a generous teacher who worked diligently to pass on her reading skills to us, or the boss that gave us a promotion over someone else because he had the gut feeling that he’d get a return from our efforts, or the anonymous donor that made sure we had food on the table during the time we were laid off.

The notion that man can predetermine who will become great and who won’t, falls short when compared to God’s view. He even clarifies that His wisdom is far above mans’.

        1 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)

        Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher 

        of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

And, if we missed the point, His word clarifies His perspective of our wisdom.

        1 Corinthians 3:19 (NIV)

        For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: 

        "He catches the wise in their craftiness";

Over the past several decades I have earned good money and received numerous accolades for my efforts, but I can clearly testify that any gain I’ve had in life came from God – Even when it came through the hands of other generous souls, each giving back for what they received.

Even the most foolish or evil man I know had moments when he was generous to someone in need. So, how can I not mention my Heavenly Father who gives all the more generously?

        Matthew 7:11
(NKJV)

        If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much 
        more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Is it time you asked your generous Heavenly Father for something?