A few days ago, my wife Geraldine pleasantly surprised me with gifts of a blazer, trouser, shirts, shoes, n’ebigenderako. While I was extremely overjoyed with her and the gifts, I was most especially grateful to God because "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father," (James 1:17).
Often times we do not realize that all of the good we experience, without exception, is from God. David said of God, "You are good, and do good," (Psalms 119:68). During His earthly life, Jesus “went about doing good," (Acts 10:38). And because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), He is therefore still in the good-doing business.
Everything that we have comes from God, for "a man can receive nothing, unless it has been given to him from heaven," (John 3:27). Even my wonderful wife, the giver of gifts, is from God (Proverbs 19:14). If you have or plan to have children, be sure to remember that "children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward," (Psalms 127:3).
When we acknowledge and appreciate that all we are and ever will be is a result of God’s providence, we shall no longer credit ourselves and others as being self-made. The notion that some successful people are self-made is demonic. We are all God-made. Knowingly or unknowingly, we all receive Divine and angelic help for everything that is accomplished in our lives. Therefore, "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you," (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
God bless you.