--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The efficiency of God may be understood…" description: "\"The efficiency of God may be understood as either creation or providence.\" — William Ames" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/william-ames-19586_creation_the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood_2539390.jpg" --- # The efficiency of God may be understood as either creation… ![“The efficiency of God may be understood as either creation or providence.” quote by William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/william-ames-19586_creation_the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood_2539390.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/william-ames-19586_creation_the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood_2539390.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/william-ames-19586_creation_the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood_2539390.jpg) > “The efficiency of God may be understood as either creation or providence.” [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God's efficiency can be seen as either the act of creating the world or the ongoing providential care that sustains it. **In simple terms:** God works by creating and by continuously caring for creation. Key Takeaway Recognize both creation and providence in divine action. Themes theology divine efficiency creation Mood contemplative academic Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - religious study - ethical decision making - spiritual reflection Key Concepts Providence philosophical theology causality Questions to Reflect On - What does divine efficiency mean for daily life? - How do creation and providence interact? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one aspect may neglect the other. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Creation Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation-providence-1418633/) [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Efficiency God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency-god-1418634/) [God Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-understood-519432/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providence/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Understood Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood-creation-1418635/) ## Related quotes > [Theirs is the mystery of continuous creation and all that providence implies: the uncertainty of vision, the horror of the fixed, the dissolution of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/theirs-is-the-mystery-of-continuous-creation-and-all-that-providence/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [A revelation is to be received as coming from God, not because of its internal excellence, or because we judge it to be worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/a-revelation-is-to-be-received-as-coming-from-god-not-because-of-its/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Our efficiency without God's sufficiency is only a deficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/our-efficiency-without-god-s-sufficiency-is-only-a-deficiency/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [“In the years since the disaster, I often think of my friend Arturo Nogueira, and the conversations we had in the mountains about God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nando-parrado/in-the-years-since-the-disaster-i-often-think-of-my-friend-arturo/) [Nando Parrado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nando-parrado/) > [As soon as I came to believe there was a God, I understood that I could not do otherwise than live only for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-foucauld/as-soon-as-i-came-to-believe-there-was-a-god-i-understood-that-i/) [Charles de Foucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-foucauld/) > [“I wonder if my watching him from the armchair is what it's like to be God, if there is a God. He sits back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/i-wonder-if-my-watching-him-from-the-armchair-is-what-it-s-like-to-be/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [The God understood as a father figure, who guided ultimate personal decisions, answered our prayers, and promised rewards and punishment based upon our behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-god-understood-as-a-father-figure-who-guided-ultimate-personal/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“God, understood in this proper sense, is essentially beyond finite comprehension;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bentley-hart/god-understood-in-this-proper-sense-is-essentially-beyond-finite/) [David Bentley Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bentley-hart/) > [I believed that there was a God because I was told it by my grandmother and later by other adults. But when I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because-i-was-told-it-by-my/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [A God you understood would be less than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/a-god-you-understood-would-be-less-than-yourself/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“To speak of “God” properly, then—to use the word in a sense consonant with the teachings of orthodox Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Bahá’í,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bentley-hart/to-speak-of-god-properly-then-to-use-the-word-in-a-sense-consonant/) [David Bentley Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bentley-hart/) > [The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-word-of-god-well-understood-and-religiously-obeyed-is-the/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“As we read the Bible, we see that God's role is not that of a scientist managing robots. Neither is God a frustrated artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gaston-barton/as-we-read-the-bible-we-see-that-god-s-role-is-not-that-of-a/) [Sara Gaston Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gaston-barton/) > [“God figured out when he separated us from the rest of the creatures that if we have the power to reason and justify and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/god-figured-out-when-he-separated-us-from-the-rest-of-the-creatures/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [“A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-god-that-can-be-understood-is-no-god-who-can-explain-the-infinite/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More by William Ames > [The starting point of sanctification is the filthiness, corruption, or stain of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-starting-point-of-sanctification-is-the-filthiness-corruption-or/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [Nothing exists from eternity but God, and God is not the matter or a part of any creature, but only the maker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/nothing-exists-from-eternity-but-god-and-god-is-not-the-matter-or-a/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [Hearing the word is the devout receiving of the will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/hearing-the-word-is-the-devout-receiving-of-the-will-of-god/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [Therefore, the church is not absolutely necessary as an object of faith, not even for us today, for then Abraham and the other prophets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/therefore-the-church-is-not-absolutely-necessary-as-an-object-of/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [In contentment and joy are found the height and perfection of all love towards our neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/in-contentment-and-joy-are-found-the-height-and-perfection-of-all/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [An idea in man is first impressed upon him and afterwards expressed in things, but in God it is only expressed, not impressed, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/an-idea-in-man-is-first-impressed-upon-him-and-afterwards-expressed/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [The world has not been in existence from eternity nor could it have been according to the present dispensation and ordering of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-world-has-not-been-in-existence-from-eternity-nor-could-it-have/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [The ordinary ministry is that which receives all of its direction from the will of God revealed in the Scriptures and from those means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-ordinary-ministry-is-that-which-receives-all-of-its-direction/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [Sanctification is the real change in man from the sordidness of sin to the purity of God's image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/sanctification-is-the-real-change-in-man-from-the-sordidness-of-sin/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [The goodness of a thing created is the perfection of its fitness for the use which it serves. Now that use is either particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-goodness-of-a-thing-created-is-the-perfection-of-its-fitness-for/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [Everyone who understands the nature of God rightly necessarily knows that God is to be believed and hoped in, that he is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/everyone-who-understands-the-nature-of-god-rightly-necessarily-knows/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [From faith, hope, and love, the virtues of religion referring to God, there arises a double act which bears on the spiritual communion exercised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/from-faith-hope-and-love-the-virtues-of-religion-referring-to-god/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [In the exercise of God's efficiency, the decree of God comes first. This manner of working is the most perfect of all and notably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/in-the-exercise-of-god-s-efficiency-the-decree-of-god-comes-first/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [The good pleasure of God is an act of the divine will freely and effectively determining all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-good-pleasure-of-god-is-an-act-of-the-divine-will-freely-and/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [Participation in the blessings of the union with Christ comes when the faithful have all the things needed to live well and blessedly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/participation-in-the-blessings-of-the-union-with-christ-comes-when/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) [Explore all 32 William Ames quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) ## More Creation quotes > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [I believe if there is a creator it will basically ask me two questions, how well did you enjoy my creation and what did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-believe-if-there-is-a-creator-it-will-basically-ask-me-two/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [In the quiet moments of your day, what do you think and do? When you are with your Self and no one else, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/in-the-quiet-moments-of-your-day-what-do-you-think-and-do-when-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [To be part of the creation, I must act humbly. I'll take that over a goddess any day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-o-hara/to-be-part-of-the-creation-i-must-act-humbly-i-ll-take-that-over-a/) [Maureen O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-o-hara/) > [The country of Iraq is somewhat of an artificial creation going back to colonial days. And so you have the Kurds and then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/the-country-of-iraq-is-somewhat-of-an-artificial-creation-going-back/) [James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/) [Browse all 5,225 Creation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The efficiency of God may be understood as either creation or providence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Ames" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood-as-either-creation-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood-as-either-creation-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/william-ames-19586_creation_the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood_2539390.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/william-ames-19586_creation_the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood_2539390.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/william-ames-19586_creation_the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood_2539390.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The efficiency of God may be understood as either creation or providence.” — William Ames", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Ames", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The efficiency of God may be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood-as-either-creation-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-efficiency-of-god-may-be-understood-as-either-creation-or/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```