finite or sinful

Is there a difference between being finite and being sinful - i.e. limited vs rebellious?  If so, what is it?

Because we are finite - we are not all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful or everywhere present - and because we depend on things outside of us to exist - air, food, water, shelter, even ¹love - we are limited (unlike God - who needs no one or no thing - we are not self-sufficient), therefore we must trust. We must look to and depend on other persons and things apart from us to sustain us; to keep us going. Take away any of the things mentioned above, and we die. We can do many things because we are like God but we can't do everything i.e. we are not God. We must have certain things to continue living. 

Being finite, dependent, or limited has nothing to do with sin - unbelief - rebellion, and everything to do with whom we are as dependent creatures or beings. It is who we are and how we are designed. This difference is sometimes called the creator-creature distinction. It is the denial of our dependence that is our problem. This is at the heart of the sin question which we will shortly look at more closely.

If someone incurs loss or is inadvertently harmed due to our limitations, have we done something wrong? We have heard stories of children being injured, abducted, or having their lives taken because something occurred outside of a parent's control. When this happens, like an audio file set on a loop, the parent replays the circumstances that lead up to such an event ... "²what did I do wrong... what could I have done differently ... how could I let this happen ... I am a terrible parent ... I hate myself ... etc?" It is in these situations we are forced to face our limitations directly and most intensely. The reality is the parent could have done everything within their power and still not have prevented a tragic outcome. 

Yet we rarely admit our limitations. When such a tragedy occurs what do we do? Do we seek almighty God, the genuine source of life, wisdom, and love - on which we are dependent for all things - or do we blame ourselves or even blame him?

Christ tells us, "To whom much is given much is required." So wouldn't the opposite also be true; to whom little or nothing is given, little or nothing is required? God doesn't expect or require rocks to willfully look up to, depend on, and praise him, only humans. Why? Rocks aren't designed to, we are. Only we are like God.

Being sinful however means we choose - it is deliberate, not inadvertent - to use what we have to try and be independent of God. Therefore we use things only for our benefit, not others, be they God or our fellow human.

There is a difference between intent and ability.

We can intend good things but not be ³able to bring them about on our own. This is being finite. It is not wrong, it is who we are as finite creatures. We are not the Creator. 

When we have the ability or resources available to do something for the benefit of others, but choose not to, this is being rebellious and sinful. 

But to shame ourselves for not doing something we don't have the ability to do is also wrong.

Limited but capable

Though we are limited we are also capable of doing far more than we recognize. We cannot use our limitations as an excuse to not use what we do have for God's honor - i.e. use what He's given in a way that acknowledges and honors Him as the giver and others as worthy of our love-effort.

Personally limited with access to unlimited resources

If we are a child of God we also have His Spirit and unlimited access to Him, who is without limits and with unlimited resources. If we are about His business he will give us whatever we need to accomplish whatever He's given us to do. 

This is the part of the purpose of prayer and why we are invited to call on him. What we don't have within ourselves, we have access to in and through Him. The only thing that limits our participation in God and His unlimited resources is us - i.e. our not looking to, depending on, and trusting God in accordance to who we are (finite dependent creatures) -- and who He is (the unlimited, all-knowing, everywhere present, all-powerful and all-loving God) ... the I AM.  In a word we must have faith in the infinite unlimited God to do things beyond our limitations.

A prayer...

God, do for me what I cannot do for myself; do through me what I cannot do by myself. Help me to clearly see what I can do and give me the strength to faithfully carry it out for your glory. 
 
For a further discussion on the nature of our rebellion click here ______________________________________________________________

¹Some might argue love is not a necessity for life. However, research indicates otherwise. For more click here. 

²A spiritually healthy and whole parent would likely be filled with grief over the loss or harm to their child i.e. their focus would be on the child and God, not themselves. 

³Certainly, sheer determination can result in greater outcomes than being passive but the greatest determination does not make us all-powerful. It doesn't even make us complete or sufficient for what we were designed for.