Definition and Context:
Contriving refers to the act of planning, devising, or scheming, often with a sense of ingenuity or cunning. In a biblical context, contriving can have both positive and negative connotations, depending on the intent and outcome of the actions involved. It involves the use of human intellect and creativity to achieve a particular goal, which can either align with God's will or oppose it.

Biblical Instances and Themes:

1. Human Ingenuity and Wisdom:
The Bible acknowledges human ability to plan and devise. Proverbs 16:9 states, "A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." This verse highlights the balance between human planning and divine sovereignty. While humans are capable of contriving plans, it is ultimately God who guides the outcome.

2. Negative Connotations of Contriving:
Contriving is often associated with deceit and wickedness when it involves scheming against others or against God's commandments. In Psalm 36:4, it is written, "Even on his bed he plots evil; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he does not reject evil." This verse illustrates the sinful nature of contriving when it is used for malevolent purposes.

3. Examples of Deceptive Contriving:
The account of Jacob and Esau provides an example of contriving for personal gain. Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, contrived to deceive his father Isaac and receive the blessing meant for Esau (Genesis 27). This act of deception led to significant familial strife and serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of deceitful contriving.

4. God's Displeasure with Wicked Schemes:
The Bible clearly condemns contriving that leads to sin. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists things the Lord hates, including "a heart that devises wicked schemes." This underscores the moral responsibility to align one's plans with righteousness and integrity.

5. Positive Aspects of Planning:
While contriving can be negative, the Bible also speaks to the value of wise planning. Proverbs 21:5 states, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." Here, contriving is seen in a positive light when it involves diligence and aligns with godly principles.

6. Divine Wisdom in Planning:
The Bible encourages seeking God's wisdom in all plans. James 1:5 advises, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." This verse emphasizes the importance of divine guidance in human contriving, ensuring that plans are made with wisdom and discernment.

Moral and Ethical Implications:
The act of contriving, when aligned with God's will, can lead to positive outcomes and reflect human creativity and stewardship. However, when used for selfish or harmful purposes, it becomes a tool of sin. Believers are called to submit their plans to God, seeking His guidance and aligning their intentions with His righteous standards.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Contrive.

The Life of Mr. James Guthrie.
... (1.) His contriving, consenting to, and exhibiting before the committee
of estates, the paper called, The western remonstrance. ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr james 3.htm

Other Shameful Actions Ascribed to Heathen Deities. All Prove that ...
... For not only did he commit adultery, but he deified and raised to heaven those born
of his adulteries, contriving the deification as a veil for his lawlessness ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 12 other shameful actions.htm

That the Present Public Resolutions, Expressed in the Commission's ...
... Before we enter upon the chief question, we offer these manifest and known truths
to consideration: (1) The occasion of contriving and subscribing first the ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section ii that the present.htm

Correspondence of St. Chrysostom with the Bishop of Rome.
... He did not cease doing and contriving everything until, with all possible display
of arbitrary power and authority, he ejected us from the city and the church ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/correspondence of st chrysostom with 2.htm

Acts xxiii. 8-Jun
... Thus it was with Joseph: his mistress sought to ruin him: and she seemed indeed
to be contriving his ruin, but by her contriving she placed him in a state of ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xlix acts xxiii 8-jun.htm

The Observations Contained in the Preceding ChapterMake it ...
... attention. It must never be long absent from his thoughts, and he must be
contriving how to promote it, in every thing he undertakes. ...
/.../hints on extemporaneous preaching/chapter iii the observations contained.htm

2 Cor. Iii. 5
... And I shewed, either that those Expressions were designed solely to give to God
the Glory of designing and contriving the Dispensation of the Gospel, and the ...
/.../sermon xiv 2 cor iii.htm

The Necessity of Diligently Seeking the Saints' Rest.
... What contriving and caring to get a step higher in the world than their brethren,
while they neglect the kingly dignity of the saints! ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter vii the necessity of.htm

Letter ix. To Titus, Hierarch, Asking by Letter what is the House ...
... the battle of giants in Genesis, during which He is said to scheme against those
powerful and great men, and this when they were contriving the building, not ...
/.../dionysius/letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter ix to titus hierarch.htm

Criticisms on "The Origin of Species. "
... end; on the ground, that the only cause we know of, competent to produce such an
effect as a watch which shall keep time, is a contriving intelligence adapting ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/xiii criticisms on the origin.htm

Contriving (1 Occurrence)
... & vb. n.) of Contrive. Multi-Version Concordance Contriving (1 Occurrence). Luke
22:2 and the High Priests and the Scribes were contriving how to destroy Him. ...
/c/contriving.htm - 6k

Invention (4 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) The faculty of inventing; imaginative faculty; skill or ingenuity
in contriving anything new; as, a man of invention. 6. (n ...
/i/invention.htm - 8k

Device (17 Occurrences)
... any evil implication, as in 2 Chronicles 2:14 Acts 17:29 (of artistic work or
invention), and Ecclesiastes 9:10 (in the general sense of reasoning or contriving...
/d/device.htm - 14k

Premeditation (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The act of meditating or contriving beforehand;
previous deliberation; forethought. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/p/premeditation.htm - 7k

Contrived (1 Occurrence)

/c/contrived.htm - 6k

Destroy (379 Occurrences)
... NAS RSV). Luke 22:2 and the High Priests and the Scribes were contriving
how to destroy Him. But they feared the people. (WEY). John ...
/d/destroy.htm - 37k

Control (88 Occurrences)

/c/control.htm - 33k

Contriving: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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