The Creator Gives Greatly

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:24-25, NIV).

As Creator, God does give not only life. He who gives physical life, gives breath -- the capability to have that life -- and EVERYTHING that sustains it. And in His grace, He gives all those things to every man.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:45, “…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

When the people in Lystra wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas, they told the crowd, “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy" (Acts 14:15-17).

Notice that God gives not only physical things to all his created human beings. He also fills their hearts with joy. God gives enjoyment.

We read in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God” (NKJV).

Our Creator gave us not only our life. He gave us air, water and sunshine. He gave us food. He gave us our labor. And He gave us even the joy and satisfaction in what we eat and what we do.

He also gave wealth, honor and strength. We read in 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, “…Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”

Even physical healing, He did not withhold from those who needed it, whether they were Jews, or not.

We read in Matt 15:22-31:

“A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.’ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’ The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said. He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.”

God, however, is giving not just this present life by physical birth and “who gives life to the dead” (Rom. 4:17). But He gives also “the life that is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:19) – the eternal life – or, as we read in Acts 5:20 and Romans 6:4, the “new life."

And the Son of God gives this eternal life not to all people, but “to all those… (the Father) have given him” (John 17:2). Or, as Jesus Christ Himself said, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life TO WHOM HE IS PLEASED TO GIVE it” (John 5:21).

We also read in John 1:12-13, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Those who are given this new life has been given the right to become children of God – “children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”