Pacts Between God and Man

Much like anyone, I wish I could make deals with God. Personal beliefs aside, when a loved one is sick or about to die, I cannot imagine anyone remaining agnostic or atheistic. And even for the most devout, sometimes, after the worst outcome is realized, those feelings of a belief in a higher power are severed. For those who have a belief that there is more to life than our brief existence on with little meaning beyond the present, a healthy perspective can be helpful.
Most importantly, we have the power to choose. Anyone who believes that it is a gift from God, must also believe that choice is our fundamental purpose and activity while we live. Regardless of personal beliefs, this is also true for those who do not believe there is a god.
People talk about how they will receive blessings if they do this or this or that. I’ve heard people proclaim their prayers have resulted in a specific positive outcome. I must admit, there have been times in my life when I have felt the same.
BUT, there have been times when I have felt jilted as well. How is it possible that blessings can be direct result of righteous living? Are the prayers of some better than those of others? Why does God seem to listen only sometimes? I can think of only one reason. There was never a pact. There was never a promise that we will receive something because we prayed or because we were good. If God has a hand in our lives, it is one-sided and out of our control. That is not to suggest anything negative about the nature of God. I am merely stating that we are not privy to His reasoning. We can only do our best and hope that results in positive outcome.
As a teacher working with good students, I wish for them to continue to succeed. When I see good work, I give those students accolades for their hard work. Each student’s good work needs to be recognized to encourage continued growth. Do I treat the struggling student any differently? I do everything I can not to. To do so would be unconscionable. That would make me a terrible teacher. If anything, I need to find small successes for the struggling student and recognize those so that that student can begin to flourish.
Why is it that many devout followers of God believe if they live well, it increases the chance that He will reward them? He might, but that makes no sense on several levels.
First, it creates opportunities for religious people to place themselves above others. They often say things like, if you live like me, you can have God’s blessing, too, and live like me and you can be as good as I am. This is something Christians profess to believe, but it can never be true. Regardless of religious belief, one person can never be worth less or more than another.
Next, it begs the question, who is worthy? Is one person’s prayer less valuable than another’s?  Why do people have to die too young? If loved ones could make a deal with God, people would only die when there was no one left who cared about them enough to pray. It makes no sense to think that God’s decision to take one person over another has anything to do with prayers or blessings.
Am I advocating giving up or not trying? Of course, not. I’m suggesting that there is no way to comprehend God’s reasoning and we have no idea about why there are miracles for some and not others.
God may very well reward peoples for prayers and good behavior, but even if he does, they are gifts. Gifts are not negotiated. They are given at the discretion of the giver. In this case, God’s gifts are literally that. They are gifts, given at His discretion for reasons beyond or control or understanding. Being appreciative and worthy of the gifts He gives is our job,

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