Psalm 84:11 is an exciting and assuring verse of scripture. It says, “For the Lord God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right.” Of course, this assurance only applies to those who do what is right in God’s sight. These are the righteous people.
They are the people who love and obey His commandments. He says He will bless and honour them. Prosperity and pleasures of life are rewards for those who faithfully serve and obey God. In fact, God is always searching for such people to bless.
Looking at our present society, we may be tempted to say that there are many people who sincerely serve and obey God but seem to lack the good things of life. We wonder why they have virtually nothing to show that they are special people of God. The truth is that our assessment can sometimes be wrong.
The person we assume to be righteous may not actually be so in God’s eyes. We are only able to see the outside of a person while God looks at their heart. This tendency to hinge our judgment on appearance is apparently a general limitation of all mortals.
Even God’s anointed prophet, Samuel, made the same mistake of looking at the physical features of Eliab when God directed him to go and anoint one of Jesse’s sons as King Saul’s successor. Samuel was so impressed with Eliab’s broad shoulders and other physical attributes that he quickly concluded that he, Eliab, was the chosen one until God expressed His disapproval over the decision—1st Samuel 16.
We may also sometimes wonder why some people who live in brazen disobedience and opposition to God seem to be flourishing and enjoying the good things of life. Indeed, such ungodly people abound everywhere. They are full of evil devices and are involved in all sorts of shady businesses. They are the ones who call the shots and influence the society.
The truth, however, is that while they may seem to be prospering in the eyes of men, God, whose word can never fail, has said in Psalm 37, 1-4, “Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like grass and wither as a green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”
It is also instructive to note that God’s promise of not keeping any good thing away from the righteous is equally conditional. Sometimes our definition of a good thing may not exactly be God’s perception. We all know that Rolls-Royce is a very good car. Some rich Nigerians have one or more of it. But supposing I ask God to give me one Rolls-Royce car today because He has said He will not deny me any good thing. I’m sure He will want to know my motive for wanting it.
Is my desire for this good thing really justified? Or is it merely to let my friends to know that I have arrived? God does not place good things in the hands of some people because they have the tendency to misuse and monopolise such privileges. Good things are given to people for noble purposes.
The purpose for which God supplies good things is not for selfish indulgence, but to enable us to accomplish the mission He has for us.
How we use our God-given time, talents, and treasures determines whether more will be given or even the ones given will be withdrawn. Above all, we are called to devote ourselves to activities that glorify God in order to continually receive and enjoy the good things divinely provided for us.