GOD DOES CARE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20488, 24 February 1941, Page 9

GOD DOES CARE

EXTENT OF HIS HELP FAULTY STANDARDS GROWTH OF FAITH One of the problems which has confronted man in all ages is the question of the care of God. It is a question which is still upon men’s lips Modern science has given us a sense of the greatness of the universe, but unfortunately it has made us believe in the insignificance of man. This seems hard to reconcile with belief in God s care for the individual. The smallness of man rather than his sin has become the great stumbling block to assurance of God’s love. We consider a thing big or 'little only in comparison with ourselves, and that is a very faulty standard. It not only gives us a wrong sense of the relative importance of things, it sets a limit on the power of God. His knowledge and His care are not to be limited by ours. The Self-Limitation of God If he cares so much, then why doesn’t He do more? Why does He allow such things as war and disease and sin? Is it not partly because He made us as a family that He cannot step forward unless He takes the family with him? • The story is told of a mother who was waiting impatiently for tea one day. Her husband and little son were late. When at last they arrived she inquired in no uncertain tones the reason for the delay. “I’m sorry, dear,” said her husband, “I’ve been cleaning the car and Bobby has been helping me. It always takes me longer when Bobby helps me..” God could cure the evils of the world, no-doubt, and solve our problems quickly. It takes Him longer when His children are helping—we who are “something between a hindrance and a help.” God’s Supreme Purpose

But why this delay? Why wait for us in the building of the Kingdom? There would be no need if the building of His Kingdom were all. But the building of the Kingdom is not God’s chief purpose. The purpose of God is to make us fit for the Kingdom. It is not the Kingdom which is being made in these years of ours, but we ourselves.

Two younger Scouters took a company of boys to camp. The youngsters struggled for hours putting up the tents, and when at last they were erected they were a sorry sight. The Scouters stood watching all the time. They could have put Up the tents well and truly in a very short time. Their purpose, however, was not to erect tents, but to train boys. Goci could do things for us, and do them better than we can ourselves. He doesn’t, because He is more interested in making citizens than in building a Kingdom. When we were children our parents gave us medicine and made us do many things against which we rebelled. Now we have grown up we know that they knew best. It was best for us that they acted as they did. Not until we have grown up in our faith shall we understand some of the ways of God. But we have enough experience of Hisways to know that we shall say at the end with Browning, “I have lived, seen God’s Hand through a lifetime, and all was for the best.” Jesus —-The Revealer of God And if we doubt, there is always JeSus. He did not argue much about the care of God, He showed it. For Tittle children, for the bereaved, for the hungry and homeless, for sinners He opened His heart and showed them the heart of God. “Show us the Father and it sufficeth us,” one of them cried. “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father,” was his reply. It was enough for them—and it is enough for us Levi Dawson. —Supplied by the Ministers’ Association.