An Amateur Providence: How to Avoid Being One

What is an amateur providence, according to Oswald Chambers?

Biddy defined an amateur providence in the November 15 reading from My Utmost for His Highest:

One of our severest lessons comes from the stubborn refusal to see that we must not interfere in other people’s lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God’s order for others.

You see a certain person suffering, and you say—‘He shall not suffer, and I will see that he does not.’ You put your hand straight in front of God’s permissive will to prevent it, and God says—“What is that to thee?”

An amateur providence is when we do what we think is right in someone else’s life rather than wait to see what God wants to do.

Or–we think we know more than God does about what He’s doing in someone else’s life.

What does it mean to be an amateur providence–practically speaking?

It means that when you see something happening (usually something uncomfortable) in someone’s life, you intervene.

Parents often do this–rather than allow a child to experience the consequences of their choice, we step in and “make it better.”

We want to guard the people we love and protect them from a difficult result.

It’s understandable but often wrong.

We usually learn better from bad experiences than good or fortunate ones.

Right?

Wrong?

What do you think?

What happened to me

I usually shudder when I read one of the ten times OC uses “amateur providence” in My Utmost for His Highest.

I know what OC and Biddy are talking about.

God plans the experiences of our lives in a certain way. He uses both the good and the bad to teach us about Himself.

He often uses such experiences to help us examine the attitudes of our hearts.

One day, someone asked me for help. The person needed a ride, “only 20 minutes.”

I was on deadline with a long list of things to do. I felt pressured by the demanding tone–surely I could help?

However, I knew 20-minutes with this person always extended much longer. The caller knew how to make others feel guilty.

I waffled. What should I do?

So, I asked God.

God spoke to me sternly.

“You have commitments today you already told me you wanted and needed to meet. If you go off to help this person–who I have not asked you to help–it will take longer than 20 minutes.

Indeed, it probably will take the full day. You’ll be frustrated and angry with yourself. Tonight you’ll complain to your husband about how you never get the work done you know you need to do.

I did NOT ask you to help this person. You know very well you are not to be an amateur providence.”

It was that reference to “amateur providence” that convicted me.

I declined to help, met my deadline, cooked dinner, and went to bed content I’d listened to and obeyed God.

If God calls us to do something, we need to do it.

My weakness to feel guilty–whether justified or not–nearly undid what I wanted to do.

But what about God?

This is the real issue with acting like an amateur providence–whether we know it or not.

We assume we know more than God does about a person’s situation.

In my situation, God made it clear to me that if I acted out of misplaced sympathy and against my own will to help someone, I would get in the way of what God was doing in this person’s life.

He could have spoken to me in any way, maybe even saying, “Stop it, Michelle!”

But, He caught my attention by using Chambers’ phrase.

I felt the reprimand immediately.

And I felt peace at not guilting my way into helping someone God did not want me to help that day.

How do you avoid being one?

We need to pay attention when others make claims about our time and attention.

It doesn’t mean we don’t help or are unwilling to help.

Instead of immediately saying “yes” or “no,” we simply ask God what we should do.

“Do you want me to do this, Lord?”

If He says, “Yes,” I act.

But if He says, “No,” I demur.

Is this simply a pious way of getting out of doing something I don’t want to do–listening to my feelings rather than God’s?

It depends on your heart’s attitude and your relationship to God, doesn’t it?

The significance of “amateur providence” in the November 15 reading

Oswald Chambers died November 15, 1917, in Cairo, Egypt.

Biddy compiled My Utmost for His Highest ten years later.

How many times in the intervening years do you imagine people asked her, “How could God have let Oswald die so young?”

I believe she answered the question in that November 15 reading.

Biddy wasn’t heartless. She was determined to remain right in the center of God’s will.

Losing her husband in Egypt during World War I with a four-year-old and no financial resources was a hardship.

She did not want to be an amateur providence–suggesting God made a mistake–about Oswald’s death.

But, she focused on what was true, right, and perfect: doing what God called her, specifically Biddy, to do no matter the circumstances.

Biddy Chambers knew God’s voice well. So did Oswald Chambers.

A yes means yes. A no means no.

I’m trying to make sure I remember that same lesson every day.

How about you?

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