I watched a movie in which a father does good things for his estranged son but hides his identity from him. He doesn’t want to reveal his relationship with the boy for fear that he might cause him pain, but he’s constantly watching over and meeting his needs as he sees fit. That’s is an earthly father’s heart. He is willing to veil himself from the child if it means that it will go well for the child.

But that’s NOT how our God is. He WANTS it known that it is HE who has been good to us. He is not satisfied with our mere well-being. If things are going well for us, then He wants us to know that it is HE who brought it about! Paul says in Acts 14:16, “In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

You may ask, “So, people’s hearts are filled with gladness because He provided for them. Shouldn’t that be good enough for God? Shouldn’t He be happy that His children are happy? As long as they are happy, what does it matter who gets the credit? Why do they have to know that it was God who brought it about?”

The reason is because there is no good that is better than God. We are created for God – to commune and to have a love relationship with Him. Therefore, if we were to have all good things from the world but not God, then we are being short-changed. He is the greatest good there is. For us to gain the world and not get God would be like marrying for the sake of money than love. It would eventually become a drudgery and duty rather than pleasure and delight.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your path straight.” Proverbs 5:3-4

PH