That philosophy exists in too many minus today. We live in an age of prosperity and abundance. Our country is not engaged in a shooting war with any other country. We have leisure time. We have available to us doctors, hospitals, and pharmacists to handle our health problems. We, in fact, have people that are available to help us with our free time. What has God done for me?

Whether I recognize my problems and difficulties or have a ton of them, God loves me. Even though I am of good report among my neighbors, creditors, fellow workers, and community, God loves me (Acts 10:22). Whether I am a fornicator, an idolater, an adulterer, effeminate, a homosexual, a lesbian, God loves me (1 Cor. 6:9,10). Even though I might be a blasphemer, a persecutor of God's church and everything that is righteous, and injurious to God's children and classify myself as a chief sinner, God loves me (1 Tim. 1:13,15).

Why does God love all sinners, even though I might not recognize myself as one? He "is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (1 Pet. 3:9). Yet, "despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?)" (Rom. 2:3). Repent.Change your life. Give yourself to God as He teaches in the Bible. Permit Jesus of Nazareth to control you. Walk the pathway of life with the one that has conquered death.

God Sends His Sun and Rain

Every sun that rises on the evil and on the good, God sends it (Matt. 5:45). Without the sun, there cannot be photosynthesis. Life cannot exist without the sun, yet its warmth and benefits comes to all. God sends "rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45). God's rain waters the earth for the benefit of all righteous and all sinners. God's rain quenches my thirst, washes my clothes, and bathes my body.

God's action in this world is the action of unconquerable benevolence. "Rabbi Joshua ben Nehemiah used to say, 'Have you every noticed that the rain fell on the field of A, who was righteous, and not on the field of B, who was wicked? Or that the sun rose and shone on Israel, who was righteous, and not upon the Gentiles, who were wicked? God causes the sun to shine both on Israel and on the nations, for the Lord is good to all' " (William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Vol. 1, pp. 174-175).

Final Word

What has God done for me? The Psalmist expressed it: "The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine Hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing" (Psalms 145:15,16).

In God, there is this universal benevolence and love even towards men who have broken His law and broken His heart! Will you not come unto Jesus? Let Jesus give you rest from your labor and heavy loads. Take the yoke of Jesus and learn of Him, the Son of the living God. He is "meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls" (Mt. 11:28,29). Jesus' "yoke is easy and" His "burden is light" (Mt. 11:30). What has God done for me?

Truth Magazine XXII: 44, p. 711
November 9, 1978