Understanding the Distinction in Miraculous Works

In recent times, there’s been a growing trend where individuals claim that faith is necessary for every spiritual or supernatural endeavor to yield results. This notion, however, deserves careful scrutiny, especially when applied to certain situations where faith should not be a factor. A glaring example of this misunderstanding comes when people say that faith is needed for something they have purchased with their hard-earned money to work. This belief, while perhaps well-intentioned, is fundamentally flawed and reveals a shallow understanding of both faith and the nature of transactions.

The Nature of Transactions

When you go to the market and purchase a television, you do so with the expectation that the product will function as advertised. The transaction is clear: you exchange money for a product, and it is the responsibility of the seller to ensure that the product works. If it doesn’t, you are entitled to a refund or replacement. At no point in this process is faith required for the television to work. You don’t sit in front of the TV, close your eyes, and hope it turns on; you simply press the power button.

Similarly, when you buy medicine from a hospital, you expect the medicine to perform as prescribed by the doctor. You don’t rely on faith to activate the medicine’s efficacy. The medicine is scientifically formulated to work based on the condition it is meant to treat. Again, this is a transaction: you pay for the medication, and it is expected to work based on the knowledge and expertise of the healthcare professionals.

True Miracles are Not Transactional

The crux of the issue lies in understanding that true miracles are not transactional. They do not come with a price tag. Miracles, by their very nature, are divine acts that transcend human understanding and control. They are not commodities that can be bought, sold, or guaranteed by financial exchange.

The moment you pay for something and expect it to work because of the transaction, it ceases to be a miracle and becomes a service. Whether it’s holy water, anointing oil, or any other spiritual item, if you have paid for it, you should expect it to work based on the principles of commerce, not faith. Faith may be involved in believing in the power of God, but it should not be confused with expecting a purchased item to work.

A Call to Discernment

The challenge here is one of discernment. It’s important to recognize the difference between genuine faith and the expectation that a financial transaction guarantees a spiritual outcome. The danger of conflating the two is that it reduces the concept of miracles to mere services that can be bought and sold, thereby diminishing their true spiritual significance.

True faith is about trust in God, not in the effectiveness of a purchased product. It’s about believing in God’s power and will, independent of human transactions. So, when someone tells you that you need faith for something you’ve paid for to work, it’s a clear indication of a misunderstanding of both faith and the nature of transactions.

Let us strive to keep our faith pure and our understanding clear. True miracles are divine, beyond the reach of human transactions, and it is in this understanding that we find the depth of genuine faith.