Equal-Opportunity For Failure?

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Whose expectations? Mom's? Dad's? Societies?

What is a spiritual and social norm?

A man who never makes more than $25,000 a year but is content with what he has may be seen by some as a failure others may see him as a huge success.

I was trying to purposely leave the question broad to attempt to apply the answers to any various place in history and time.


Spiritual and social norms are the behaviors embraced bringing an established, desireable outcome-- established and desireable by the people of that same environment.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

This reminds me of the episode of Frasier where Woody (from Cheers) visits Dr Crane. Frasier feels bad for Woody in the sense that from his perspective he never did anything with his life and is leading a paycheck to paycheck hillbilly existence. It turns out Woody is happy with his life and actually feels sorry for Dr Crane and HIS life.
Granted, it is a lot funnier to actually watch the episode then reading my brief breakdown, but the lesson is there.

That was a fun show. Amazing what one learns from sitcoms.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

This reminds me of the episode of Frasier where Woody (from Cheers) visits Dr Crane. Frasier feels bad for Woody in the sense that from his perspective he never did anything with his life and is leading a paycheck to paycheck hillbilly existence. It turns out Woody is happy with his life and actually feels sorry for Dr Crane and HIS life.
Granted, it is a lot funnier to actually watch the episode then reading my brief breakdown, but the lesson is there.

So neither one of them are failures, using the definition I provided.

Is there proof to sugest that God or society tolerates failure on Woody's behalf but not Frasier's or vice versa?

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I was trying to purposely leave the question broad to attempt to apply the answers to any various place in history and time.


Spiritual and social norms are the behaviors embraced bringing an established, desireable outcome-- established and desireable by the people of a particular place and time.

I think people must define those "norms" for themselves.

What does one want from life?

What sacrifices are they willing to make to get there?

Many people want a six figure job but don't want to put the time in to learn a trade, many times while earning little or no money, or spend a few years of their life in school and then start at the bottom in a profession.

Stuff happens along the way. I think it was Solomon who said "Time and chance happens to us all." You get up dust yourself off and try again.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

So neither one of them are failures, using the definition I provided.

Is there proof to sugest that God or society tolerates failure on Woody's behalf but not Frasier's or vice versa?

To me this is where the parable of the talents comes into play. To whom much is given, much is required.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

To me this is where the parable of the talents comes into play. To whom much is given, much is required.

Absolutely.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

To me this is where the parable of the talents comes into play. To whom much is given, much is required.

So if God doesn't provide folks with equal opportunity for failure, would you say then He doesn't give folks equal opportunity for success?


Are there just some people God expects to fail?

Are there just some folks God expects to succeed?


Is God ever, "let down", or "disappointed"?

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

So if God doesn't provide folks with equal opportunity for failure, would you say then He doesn't give folks equal opportunity for success?


Are there just some people God expects to fail?

Are there just some folks God expects to succeed?


Is God ever, "let down", or "disappointed"?

Did God expect the man with one talent to fail?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Did God expect the man with one talent to fail?

And what about the man given 5 talents? What if he had only made 1 talent instead of 5? Would that have been a failure?

Remember the master told the servant with 1 talent "You could have at least put it in the bank where it would have made interest". What if the servant HAD simply put it in the bank instead of burying it? Would the tiny amount of interest it made had satisfied the master? Would the master had said "you could have at least...." if it in fact would not have?

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

And what about the man given 5 talents? What if he had only made 1 talent instead of 5? Would that have been a failure?

Remember the master told the servant with 1 talent "You could have at least put it in the bank where it would have made interest". What if the servant HAD simply put it in the bank instead of burying it? Would the tiny amount of interest it made had satisfied the master? Would the master had said "you could have at least...." if it in fact would not have?

Maybe the 1 talent guy could have suceeded if he lived in America and had the benefit of some sort of welfare net to catch him or maybe even motivate him?

Or would he had been a failure regardless of where he was born in time and space?

If indeed, he is a failure and if he is a failure, did God create him to be a failure?