THE LORD OUR PROVIDER by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 24, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 47.

THE LORD OUR PROVIDER.

By T.

The Father in heaven sends His rain and sunshine upon both the evil and the good. The bountiful harvest is provided for all alike. This unselfish generosity should lead every one to acknowledge the goodness of God.

But there are some who, regardless of every one of God’s bountiful gifts, will not trust Him, neither will they recognize Him. They have every bounty that nature, moved to her most profuse generosity by nature’s God, can supply. Still they do not look to the One who is so liberal in blessing.

In what marked contrast do those appear who, while enduring privations, even suffering want, yet rejoice to trust God, altho under these unfavorable conditions. When their needs are supplied, they offer thanksgiving. And when they are in want, they are still thankful,—they praise the Lord that for some greater good that is to come another day the supplies of to-day are shortened. They do not see just how or why this is, but they have faith in their Father. And since He is the Provider, they trust all to Him, and their faith says that whatever He does is well.

Some have been called to suffer the keenest poverty, often not having the merest necessities of life, while others, abounding in luxurious plenty, are right by their side—yes, right where they are compelled to see the distress of these poverty-stricken ones every day. Sometimes these poor people are also vile and dirty, and disgusting in their ways, but again you will find those who, without a murmur, endure all their suffering, and amidst it all are upright, and pure, and, withal, thankful. They manifest their faith in the Father in heaven, and show that they are the children of God.

Some short-sighted persons will ask, Why does God allow this? Why does He allow some to suffer want, while others have a superfluous plenty? One ready answer is that the Father in heaven sets principles before men, and then allows them to develop character by doing the right or wrong as they may choose. The Lord tells us to love our neighbor as ourself. If we do this, we will not allow him to suffer, while we revel in plenty by his side. But if we choose to disobey this word of our Father, if we look only to our selfish interests, and haughtily ignore our distressed, needy neighbor, be assured the Lord will call us to give an account of our stewardship; and what can the unfaithful steward say in that time?

We are very apt to find fault with God. We say in our hearts that He is very unkind or He would not let the poor thus suffer. But did it ever come to you that you may be cruelly crushing the tender heart of God’s love in your selfish attitude toward His poor? We know that He pities and cares for the poor. But He leaves it to you to feed and clothe them, so that your generosity may be touched, and you may be filled with the tender emotions that can not endure the sight of suffering without a sense of pain.

Then when you see a poor destitute sufferer, do not murmur against God, but look at yourself as being anxiously looked upon by your Father in heaven to see if He can touch your heart by this fellow-suffering. If He can awaken and perpetuate those tender emotions in you, then He may lead you on step by step into that perfection of character that fits you to be the recipient of the great rewards that He wishes to bestow upon you all along the joyous journey of eternity.

How grandly do some of the poor suffer as good soldiers for God, and all that their wealthier neighbors may have their hearts touched and led away from the unhappy service of self to the soul-enjoyment of the fact that it is “more blessed to give than to receive”!

Now if you are wealthy, and have been enjoying plenty for so long that you hardly know how to be thankful, hunt up some of your sorrowing suffering, starving neighbors, and give them some of the good things that you possess in abundance. You will see how thankful they are, and then your thanksgiving will be made real. It will not be a formality, but the sweet joy of real thankfulness will swell your heart with praise.

Try it, and once you know what it really is, thanksgiving days once a year will be too far apart; you will want them all the time. And what thankfulness will then be brought to God; for not only will your own heart and home be filled beyond measure, but a great chorus of praise will be rising from other hearts and homes to whom your heavenly Father has sent you to minister! T.