Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1916 — GOD’S BEST GIFTS [ARTICLE]

GOD’S BEST GIFTS

Material ’ Wealth and Earthly Prosperity Not All That May Bring Happiness to Man. It is a matter of some dissatisfaction and even complaint that the gifts which God gives to some are withheld from others. It may appear that those who are most faithful to God are often at a disadvantage) One case which is an illustration of thousands of others is his method of dealing with Jacob and Esau. “He gave to Esau Mount Selr to possess it, but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.” From some points of view Esau had much the better fortune. In some cases God gives to men what they are able to appreciate. If they think that material wealth is chiefly to be desired, he may give them that. Esau put earthly possessions and comforts first; he was ready to exchange the birthright and blessing, which were spiritual, for a mess of pottage. So he was given what he could appreciate. Mount Seir may have been rich in mineral deposits, and there may have been the most fertile soil in the valleys; at any rate he became one of the rich and powerful men of his day. But Jacob put the higher value on spiritual possessions. Above everything else he wanted the birthright and blessing, although he must have known that in gaining them he might be compelled to leave home and forfeit his share of his father’s estate. Ho appreciated spiritual gifts, so God sent him into Egypt. As a result of that experience his race came to know God and developed a type of character which has made them unique among the nations of the earth. _ The favor of God often bestows on men today what they are able to appreciate. . Those whose chief ambition in life is to gain wealth, may be unusually prospered. But the people who have large wealth are not always to be envied. That may be all that is given to them. Mr. Spurgeon said, “God thinks little of those things, therefore he gives them to those of whom he thinks little. About the most tragic thing which could be said about any man is the statement made about Esau, ‘God gave him Mount Selr,’ ” and that was all he gave him. The rich man in the parable was given a plenty which filled his barns to the bursting. But he was not given anything else. He was not given life to enjoy his prosperity, and he went into the other life with a pauper soul. Those who put the highest value on material prosperity, if they get such prosperity get that and nothing more. But those who put the highest value upon spiritual gifts and earnestly seek for them are sure to gain them.” God’s Wisdom in His Gifts. But God does not always give to men what they most appreciate. If so, there would not be an unhappy person in the world. The common idea of happiness is to be in possession of the things most desired. But the world is filled with unhappy people, with those who have not been given what they long for. There is therefore another principle which determines the distribution of God’s gifts. He gives to each individual what will best serve his plan for the life of that individual. God Intended to make out of Esau a great nation, and to accomplish that purpose he gave him Mount Selr. The deserts which encircled that district would make the tribe of Esau immune from attack, and the rock heights would make defense easy if attacks came. The fertile valleys would support a large population. Mount Selr was a favorable location for the development of a great nation. But God’s purpose for Jacob was different and therefore his dealings with Jacob were different. The greatness of Jacob was to consist in a knowledge of God, in lofty moral and spiritual ideals, in the hope of a Messiah who would save from sin. The experience of Egypt and the wilderness were necessary to bring about those attainments of life and faith. Nowhere so well as in Egypt could they have learned the power of God. Nowhere so well as in the wilderness could they learn their absolute dependence upon God. The law given at Mt. Sinai made a deeper impression than if it had been given in danaan. Jacob could hardly have chosen the exile and bondage of Egypt, but God gave him that because it best suited his plan for Jacob’s life. The method of God in distributing his gifts surprises men only because they do not understand his purpose for them. They do not always get what they desire and appreciate, but they get what will accomplish God's purpose. If they are led into some Egypt and through some wilderness, if they are not given those things which bring Immediate comfort, it is because he has some larger purpose in view for them.