Isn’t it too harmful to trust in providence?

When we flip through the texts of the Church Fathers, we sometimes encounter a strange contradiction. Saint Augustine and other writings against the Pelagians often highlight human weakness. Man alone has nothing but sin. Without God’s help, we cannot even think well. By contrast, St John Chrysostomus, like other Greek Fathers, confidently defends the power of the human will. Once it is spoken, its sayings are often repeated by ascetics: “To save you, you just need to.” From the theological perspective, this contradiction is merely apparent. If God lacked man’s grace, he would not really be able to do good. But this must not excuse laziness or justify a false trust in God’s providence. But to be used at the right moment, it is beneficial to have eyes. Remark written by P. Surin in his Spiritual Catechism: ‘It is appropriate to leave everything to the Lord when He acts and acts. But it is not right to let the Lord do everything when he wants us to do something. ” We can clarify this point by making a comparison. He trusts in providence, sits safely at the wheel, and drives out, provided that the car is in good condition, obeying traffic regulations and driving carefully on the road, as St Francis Sales asks of every person regarding the body. “I know God asks me not to be too concerned about the idea of ​​being ill or having sound health, but I also know that it is God’s explicit will to call a doctor and take medication when it is needed.” So, what do we think of such extraordinary cases as the one just mentioned, Saint Ignatius, who boarded a ship on a long journey without pennies in his pocket? These are really extraordinary cases. They show a profound faith that produces remarkable results. But everyday life is not created by miracles but by the wise work of the Son of God, who works with the Father in common work. The preacher puts it jokingly: the Lord is calling real workers in his vineyard, not dead hoes. After the first enthusiasm, Ignatius himself set this wise rule: “It is necessary to pray as if everything matters only to God, but also to work as if the whole thing depends on us.” Under God’s providence, one learns to care for one’s affairs.