God’s Providence

In His permanent legacy to us, as recorded in the Holy Bible, God has assured us of His love and care for us (see Mt. 6:25-34).  Naturally that does not mean we have no part to play or do.  As human intelligent beings we are expected to do the duties that are expected of us, duties towards God, ourselves and our neighbor.  Such is the reason we were given the intelligence and other faculties of soul and body, because naturally we are to do our part in the duties of our world and our building a better society.  Precisely that’s what the above text refers to.

            “Look at the birds in the sky.  They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they are?  Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life?  And why worry about clothing?  Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these.  Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field which is there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you men of little faith?  So do not worry; do not say, “What are we to eat?  What are we to drink?  How are we to be clothed?”  It is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things.  Your heavenly Father knows you need them all.  Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well.  So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:26-34).

            Yes, my friend, rest assured, God cares for you and loves you.  He doesn’t want you to become a ‘nervous wreck’ because of too much useless worrying.  His point is that we trust in God’s Almighty hand and constant loving care.

Human Ambitions

        What’s wrong with human ambitions?  It’s something natural but when placed to excess may lead to many lapses or mistakes.  Well, the word has acquired some negative connotations like seeking favor or honor, greed for success, vainglory, etc.  But put in the right or positive direction, it may serve the purposes of truth and noble service to humanity.  But certainly, knowing innate weakness in man, this calls for having recourse to prayer and God’s grace.  We remember Christ’s explanation to the disciples when they were perplexed by His statement: “It is easier for a camel to enter into the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 19:24).  So Jesus explained the need for God’s assistance or grace here.  Hence the answer of Jesus: “For men this is impossible but for God everything is possible” (Mt. 19:26).

        History has shown the examples of great men, saints and heroes who by God’s grace became entirely new persons, converted from a depraved life.  You too can change, with God’s help while acknowledging in deep humility your need for help from above.  As Jesus once remarked: “Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; but cut off from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5), just like saying ‘without me you can do nothing’.  There is certainly hope for erring man when he humbly lifts his hands to God in quest for God’s assistance.  Testimony to that is the numberless crowd of saints who surpassed their human vices and weaknesses by God’s Almighty grace that’s always open to the humble of heart who turn to God in humble prayer.