--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not that God is stingy and must be…" description: "\"It is not that God is stingy and must be coaxed, for He \"giveth liberally and upbraideth not.\" It is that we ourselves are so shallow and sinful that w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/vance-havner-1699_authority_it-is-not-that-god-is-stingy-and-must-be_2927653.jpg" --- # It is not that God is stingy and must be coaxed, for He… ![“It is not that God is stingy and must be coaxed, for He "giveth liberally and upbraideth not." It is that we ourselves are so shallow and sinful that we need to tarry before Him until our restless natures can be stilled and the clamor of outside voices be deadened so that we can hear His voice…” quote by Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/vance-havner-1699_authority_it-is-not-that-god-is-stingy-and-must-be_2927653.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/vance-havner-1699_authority_it-is-not-that-god-is-stingy-and-must-be_2927653.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/vance-havner-1699_authority_it-is-not-that-god-is-stingy-and-must-be_2927653.jpg) > “It is not that God is stingy and must be coaxed, for He "giveth liberally and upbraideth not." It is that we ourselves are so shallow and sinful that we need to tarry before Him until our restless natures can be stilled and the clamor of outside voices be deadened so that we can hear His voice. Such a state is not easily reached, and the men God uses have paid a price in wrestlings and prevailing prayer. But it is such men who rise from their knees confident of His power and go forth to speak with authority.” [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual growth requires patience, silence, and prayer to hear God's voice. **In simple terms:** Silence and patience reveal divine guidance. Key Takeaway Seek quiet for spiritual insight. Themes faith patience prayer Mood contemplative serene Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal meditation - church worship - inner conflict - leadership Key Concepts spiritual listening humility Questions to Reflect On - How do you create space for inner listening? - What sacrifices are needed for deeper faith? A Different Perspective Noise and distractions can drown inner stillness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Clamor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clamor/) [Giveth Liberally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giveth-liberally-4298069/) [God Stingy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-stingy-4298067/) [God Uses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-uses/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knees/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prevailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevailing/) [Prevailing prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevailing-prayer/) [Restless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restless/) [Shallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shallow/) [Sinful Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinful-need-4298068/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Stingy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stingy/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/god-uses-broken-things-it-takes-broken-soil-to-produce-a-crop-broken/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/if-god-is-not-first-in-our-thoughts-and-efforts-in-the-morning-he/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [There can be no prevailing in prayer without travailing in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-j-smith/there-can-be-no-prevailing-in-prayer-without-travailing-in-prayer/) [Oswald J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-j-smith/) > [None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/none-can-believe-how-powerful-prayer-is-and-what-it-is-able-to-effect/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [You ask me, How much time? I do not know. I know it means time enough to forget time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mott/you-ask-me-how-much-time-i-do-not-know-i-know-it-means-time-enough-to/) [John Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mott/) > [“When the fallow ground is thoroughly broken up in the hearts of Christians, when they have confessed and made restitution, as I have taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-finney/when-the-fallow-ground-is-thoroughly-broken-up-in-the-hearts-of/) [Charles Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-finney/) > [Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/whether-we-like-it-or-not-asking-is-the-rule-of-the-kingdom/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Beloved, there are heights in experimental knowledge of the things of God that the eagles discerning eye and philosophical thought have never seen...God alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/beloved-there-are-heights-in-experimental-knowledge-of-the-things-of/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-men-who-have-done-the-most-for-god-in-this-world-have-been-early-2/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [Prayer can do anything that God can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-torrey/prayer-can-do-anything-that-god-can-do/) [R. A. Torrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-torrey/) > [Prevailing prayer is prayer that pushes right through all difficulties and obstacles, drives back all the opposing forces of Satan, and secures the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-l-duewel/prevailing-prayer-is-prayer-that-pushes-right-through-all/) [Wesley L Duewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-l-duewel/) > [“If we embrace every problem with a prayer, we shall prevail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-we-embrace-every-problem-with-a-prayer-we-shall-prevail/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [It is in the field of prayer that life's critical battles are lost or won. We must conquer all our circumstances there. We must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-jowett/it-is-in-the-field-of-prayer-that-life-s-critical-battles-are-lost-or-2/) [John Henry Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-jowett/) > [It is in the field of prayer that life's critical battles are lost or won...In prayer we bring our spiritual enemies into the Presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-jowett/it-is-in-the-field-of-prayer-that-life-s-critical-battles-are-lost-or/) [John Henry Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-jowett/) > [All great soul-winners have been men of much and mighty prayer, and all great revivals have been preceded and carried out by persevering, prevailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-logan-brengle/all-great-soul-winners-have-been-men-of-much-and-mighty-prayer-and/) [Samuel Logan Brengle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-logan-brengle/) ## More by Vance Havner > [Plenty of church members are shaky about what they believe, while not many are shaken by what they believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/plenty-of-church-members-are-shaky-about-what-they-believe-while-not/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [It is one thing to say Jesus is all you want; until He is all you have and you discover He is all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/it-is-one-thing-to-say-jesus-is-all-you-want-until-he-is-all-you-have/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [There are many who say they want to be victorious Christians, but few are willing to endure the discipline necessary to make one a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-are-many-who-say-they-want-to-be-victorious-christians-but-few/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The only way to meet the modern demon-stration of the powers of darkness is by a demonstration of the power of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-only-way-to-meet-the-modern-demon-stration-of-the-powers-of/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [God is on the lookout today for a man who will be quiet enough to get a message from Him, brave enough to preach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/god-is-on-the-lookout-today-for-a-man-who-will-be-quiet-enough-to-get/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The last word of our Lord to the church was not the Great Commission. The last thing He said to the church was 'Repent.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-last-word-of-our-lord-to-the-church-was-not-the-great-commission/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Salt seasons, purifies, preserves. But somebody ought to remind us that salt also irritates. Real living Christianity rubs this world the wrong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/salt-seasons-purifies-preserves-but-somebody-ought-to-remind-us-that/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [I can conceive of no greater, more romantic and interesting adventure than to undertake to live like Jesus in this complicated day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/i-can-conceive-of-no-greater-more-romantic-and-interesting-adventure/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The church is so subnormal that if it ever got back to the New Testament normal it would seem to people to be abnormal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-church-is-so-subnormal-that-if-it-ever-got-back-to-the-new/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [A preacher who is too big for a little crowd would be too little for a big crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/a-preacher-who-is-too-big-for-a-little-crowd-would-be-too-little-for/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Jesus Christ demands more complete allegiance than any dictator who ever lived. The difference is, He has a right to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/jesus-christ-demands-more-complete-allegiance-than-any-dictator-who/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [In other days people chose a church on the basis of their doctrinal convictions. Now, lacking doctrinal convictions, they choose for social reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/in-other-days-people-chose-a-church-on-the-basis-of-their-doctrinal/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [We honor God by asking for great things when they are a part of His promise. We dishonor Him and cheat ourselves when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/we-honor-god-by-asking-for-great-things-when-they-are-a-part-of-his/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [To some Christianity is an argument. To many it is a performance. To a few, it is experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/to-some-christianity-is-an-argument-to-many-it-is-a-performance-to-a/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Doing leads more surely to talking than talking to doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/doing-leads-more-surely-to-talking-than-talking-to-doing/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) [Explore all 214 Vance Havner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. 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This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not that God is stingy and must be coaxed, for He \"giveth liberally and upbraideth not.\" It is that we ourselves are so shallow and sinful that we need to tarry before Him until our restless natures can be stilled and the clamor of outside voices be deadened so that we can hear His voice. Such a state is not easily reached, and the men God uses have paid a price in wrestlings and prevailing prayer. 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