Favored?

How often has God sustained you?

Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble. The Lord preserves them and keeps them alive, so that they may be happy in the land; he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and ministers to them in their illness. I said, "Lord, be merciful to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you." My enemies are saying wicked things about me: When will he die, and his name perish? Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; their heart collects false rumors; they go outside and spread them. All my enemies whisper together about me and devise evil against me. "A deadly thing," they say, "has fastened on him; he has taken to his bed and will never get up again." Even my best friend, whom I trusted, who broke bread with me, has lifted up his heel and turned against me. But you, O Lord, be merciful to me and raise me up, and I shall repay them. By this I know you are pleased with me, that my enemy does not triumph over me. In my integrity you hold me fast, and shall set me before your face for ever. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from age to age. Amen. Amen. - Psalm  41:1-13

We tend to take some things for granted.

If we get sick, we believe we will get well.  If people say bad things about us, the truth will eventually come out.  If we are innocent, we will not be punished.

But things don't always work out the way we would hope.  The Psalmist credits God for making them work out the right way.

Because I care about others, God will take extra care of me.

Maybe it is because we seek God's help that He comes to our aid.  It makes sense that someone who does not believe in God will not reach out for God's help, though they may find God in their troubles.

So, is the one who helps others favored in God's eyes?

He should be, right?  If we believe God chose to be one of us in the form of his son to show us how to love one another and care for one another, it would make sense that behavior would be favored.

But I don't know.  I can't picture God deciding to let anyone suffer just because he or she didn't turn to God.  Then, again, people do suffer and we all die, eventually.  

So, is the Psalmist right?

I believe God is there for us always.  When we call, as Jesus said, He will answer, and we know Jesus cured the sick, restored vision to the blind and hearing to the deaf.

All things are possible with God, so why not believe He will come to our aid?

It does make sense after all.

More to come...