Weeks ago I heard that “all the world’s problems would vanish if everyone was thankful” and while this quote astonishes many, the truth of it keeps coming back, sometimes as a hug and sometimes as a kick in the pants. How can I gripe? God reminds me often of His blessings.
Today, reading Charnock’s section on God’s goodness, I am reminded again and will try to condense what he wrote and be thankful for who God is and all that He does…
God richly furnished the world for us, not a palace for Himself but all the ‘furniture’ is for us as a mark of His goodness. He covered it with a glorious heaven, floored it with a solid earth spread adorned with a splendid tapestry. At first, waters covered the earth, but He drained them into the proper channels that they turn not again to “cover the earth” but to provide for our needs.
He set up lights in the heaven to direct us and regulate the seasons. Both sun and moon light the earth. The air is His aviary, the sea and rivers His fish-ponds, the valleys His granary, the mountains His decor, yet the creatures are for our nourishment, plus metals for our use, plants to maintain our lives; rain that renders the earth fruitful, and He gives all that will nourish and delight us.
He gives for our welfare, either as food to nourish us when we are healthy, or as medicine to cure us when we are not, or garments to clothe us when we are naked or cold, or refreshment when we are weary, or delight when we are sad. He adds what is necessity for ornament, either to spread our table or beautify our dwellings, or furnish our closets, or store our possessions.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. (Proverbs 3:19–22)He gave us a variety of senses and provided a variety of delights for every sense; the beauty of light and color, the harmony of sound, the fragrancy of odor, and delicious tastes for our palates. He makes us enjoyers as well as spectators, and gives us to use as well as see and knowledge by putting the sun in the heavens to expose all beauty and convenience to our sight; and the candle of the Lord in us to expose all their inward qualities and helpfulness to our knowledge, that we might be served by and rejoice in all of His Creation. He not only appeals to our curiosity, but gratifies our senses. He even provides places to live, not like Eden yet whatever will meet our needs.
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. . . . (Psalm 104:24)
While we grumble over the hard work and challenges that came as a result of the first people eating from the one tree forbidden to them, we cannot say that tree was a sign of God's ill-will toward us. The problems we have are a result of saying no to Him and being unthankful for this God who only wants the very best for us.
And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. (Nehemiah 9:25–26)PRAY: Oh dear Jesus, You have put me here in a bountiful place — like a city with well-furnished shops, all kinds of commodities, yet I so easily miss or ignore Your goodness. Forgive me for lack of thankfulness at times — when You are so faithful to provide all things for my needs and my use. You answer small and large prayers, and take care of every problem and even quickly inform me of my part in creating them, and my need to confess and repent. I’m tired of falling short, longing for the perfection that lies ahead, yet know that Your plans for me remain and that You will use the events of life, even my own resistance and foolishness to teach and shape me so I will always delight in You and be thankful for all things. You are loving me in this place and I am so slow to learn and be thankful for Your great goodness.
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