THE FULLNESS OF LIFE
The Ultimate Seven: Fundamental principles of a God-centered life (8th of a Series)
4. GOD PROVIDES.
If God reigns in our life we cab be assured that He also provide whatever we need to live our life fully and fruitfully. "Seek first the reign of God and His justice, the rest will be given to you" (Cf. Mt. 6:33).
During the sojourn of the Israelites for forty years through the desert on their way to the Promise Land God did not fail to provide them with manna to eat day after day. When the people were clamoring for meat He sent them more than enough quails to satisfy their cravings. And when they cry out for water, He allowed water to gush out from a rock. God is able to provide and He will provide. If God did provide the needs of the rebellious and "stiff-necked" people whom Moses had led out of Egypt, will He not also provide for the needs of those who seek to do His will and live under His Reign?
If we have deep faith in God's loving providence, we will begin to see that wherever we are, we are surrounded with countless blessings. And as long as we consider ourselves as His stewards rather than owners of the goods of the earth, the resources of this world will become for us inexhaustible sources of blessings. On the other hand, if we allow greed to reign in our hearts and claim the world's goods as our own ans wantonly use them with lack of concern for the needs of the future generations, the blessings that God has intended for us will turn into curse.
We should not underestimate God's loving providence. He is able to provide and He will provide whatever we need. Did He not say, "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it will be opened to you?" God certainly will provide whatever we need in accomplishing the work He has entrusted to us, more will be given to us.
But we need more than faith. We also need to exercise our creativity and our intelligence in the proper management of the resources entrusted to us. And of course, we need to work.
Some of my readers might think these were mere words that I am not down to reality; that as I have no practical experience or knowledge of the life of the poor. The fact is, I know a community of Aetas in Guimaras who are involved in an export business of handicraft made of coco shell for more than ten years now, and they started with practically nothing. Through the guidance of the Counselors of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (a religious community of men and women) some Aetas who used to beg in the streets of Iloilo City or hunt in the forests now have decent incomes and some of their children are in high school or even in college.