rovidence may be defined as “the wisdom that God continually exercises in His foresight and forethought, according to His purpose, to accomplish what He set out to fulfill.” God is able to carry out His will without violating human volition or breaking His own law. Providence is opposed to “fate,” or “chance,” which sees all events as uncontrollable and without purpose. It is through God’s providential care that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

eneral providence concerns God’s support, supervision, and control of all creation, including the sun, the stars, the seasons, the weather, the animals and man. It refers to the fact that God has overseen the whole universe from the beginning, and will do so to the end. God is either the direct or indirect cause of every effect.

pecial providence relates to God’s care of His people, in fulfilling His promises to them. He promised to bruise the head of the serpent through the seed of woman (Genesis 3:14-15), and to bless all nations through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 12:1-3). To accomplish this, God worked among the nations of the world, ruling them through their respective kings. He used Israel both to disseminate the knowledge of God and to preserve the seed of Abraham until “the fullness of times.” He used other nations to punish Israel, as well as for other purposes. But, even though God used these nations, He never violated their free will.

rovidence and prayer are so interrelated that either can be viewed as a response to the other. Prayer is a response to providence when we praise God and give Him thanks for what He has already done on our behalf. Providence, on the other hand, is a response to prayer when God provides us with those things for which we petition Him.

eliverance through prayer is one aspect of God’s providential care of saints. The God of Israel has always been mindful of the troubles of His people. Throughout Israel’s history, God delivered them time and again from the hands of opposing armies and from the rule of wicked kings. They always knew they could call upon Him for deliverance. Because Israel was a physical nation, and their physical survival was necessary for the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose to bless all nations through the seed of Abraham, they were given physical deliverance. The church, of course, is a spiritual nation. Therefore, we need to remember that, though we will not always be given deliverance from physical calamities and illnesses, we will invariably be delivered from our spiritual enemies and difficulties, so long as we trust in God and pray to Him continually. &

SLOW PACED FAVORS

By Mike Johnson

ithhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. (Prov. 3:27-28)

he verses make it clear that certain people are deserving of our assistance. Help is to be given "to whom it is due."

lso, we see that it is important to not only do good, but to do good toward others in a timely fashion. Procrastination in the performance of good toward others may result in a good act never being done, or it may result in the recipient suffering needlessly because he does not get the help in a reasonable period of time. The Greeks had an adage which said, "A slow paced favor is a flavorless favor."

n Luke 10:29-36, we read of the story of the good Samaritan. In the story, a man was beaten, robbed, and left half-dead. A priest and a Levite saw him in that condition and passed by without assisting him. Next, we see that a Samaritan passed by, and we are told that he immediately helped the beaten man. He helped him with both his time and his money. Of what value would it have been to the man on the side of the road if the Samaritan had said, "Maybe I'll help this poor man on my way back"? The man could have been dead by then, and certainly his suffering would have continued.

alatians 6:10 tells us, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto those who are of the household of faith." "Doing good" is broad in its scope, and it is an individual responsibility that each Christian has. We can "do good" to others in a number of ways. We can, for example, send a sick or grieving person a card and even take food to him if necessary, visit an elderly person who is lonely, visit a sick person in the hospital who might be in need of encouragement, provide a ride to services for those who need it, give money to a needy person or to some good cause, and we can encourage those who are weak spiritually. A list of "doing good" can go on and on. It seems, though, that one of the biggest obstacles that we face in fulfilling this responsibility is procrastination. People often intend to "do good" toward others, but they never seem to get around to it. The intent is there, but the "favors" are too slow in coming. Procrastination has been called "the grave in which opportunities are buried."

n Matthew 25:34-36, Jesus said how things would be at the Judgment Day. The King would say to those on the right hand, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." The righteous, we are told, will then ask Jesus when they had done these things for him. Jesus then explained (V. 40), "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Those who will be commended did not simply think about doing these good deeds; they did not simply make plans which were soon forgotten. If they had, they would have been grouped with the unrighteous in this chapter who will, at the Judgment Day, be cast into the lake of fire (v. 41).

o you think about your responsibilities to others? If you do, you are to be commended, but do not simply think about the good that you need to do. Instead, take action carry it out! &