A Paucity of the Father's Goodness

Greetings, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to
explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly Father
has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This
morning we will ponder our lives as we seek to grasp the value and understand the meaning of the
story of a paucity of the Father's goodness. 

And now, sit back and listen to today's message. 

A Paucity of the Father's Goodness 

"For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans do the
same?" Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 46. 

A beggar sits on a corner, begging for alms. He is filthy, a disgusting sight to look upon. His clothes
are threads of rags that literally hang off of him. His skin is caked with layers of clay like dirt that has
been baked under the blazing summer sun. His eyes have a furlong look, the epitome of pity and
hopelessness.

People walk by him and look the other way, for he arouses in them a painful anguish that is hard to
define but even harder to bear. And in their minds as they stroll hastily by, they wonder and ponder
these thoughts: What kind of person would allow himself to sink to such disgusting levels of filth and
disrespect? Meanwhile, the beggar asks himself how they who have received so much can remain so
unmoved by the spectacle of his plight. Can they not perceive that were it not for circumstances of
time and space, they could very well be in the same kind of predicament as he? 

In his heart he ponders his fall from grace as tears drip down his dirt-caked face, and he wonders how
long he will linger in this darkness. He wonders when a true son of the Father will deliver him from
his night of moral darkness and spiritual blindness. He wonders where is the love. He is sure that it
must be there somewhere. If only he had a microscope, he could see it. All about him rains  raindrops
of loveless attitudes. But in his heart he is sure that in between the drops of this bitter rain of
unconcern, there is to be found love. 

Finally someone comes along who is moved to compassion by the sight of him. Finally someone
comes along who has the capacity to see his plight from his point of view. After many kinds words
of encouragement, the friend begins his attack upon the beggar's problems. The problems are so
complex and consume so much time of personal involvement that the friend grows weary. 

After telling the beggar that Jesus loves him, and that he is a son of God, the friend leaves the beggar
in the same shape that he found him. And though the beggar ponders the words that he is a son of
God, when he looks at his predicament, the words are meaningless. He feels certain if he could find
someone who could be more patient with him, he might make some real progress, especially if along
with the patience the love would also be there. 

Soon another fellow comes along who desires to help him. But in addition to this desire, he is also
patient. The friend lovingly and patiently helps get rid of the ragged threads that the beggar is
wearing. He continues to scrub the beggar's skin until it is spotless. He gives him food, money, and
shelter. With love and with patience, he tells him about Jesus and that God is his Father. After
spending all the time that is needed, the friend departs. 

Several months later, this same fellow spots a figure sitting on the corner who resembles the old
beggar. After coming closer, he recognizes him for sure, and the beggar recognizes him too. The
beggar tells him the sad story of his fall from grace, how the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. He
begs for mercy. He begs the stranger to help him again, but the strange is so outraged by his back
sliding that he refuses to show mercy, and speedily departs, mumbling something under his breath
about ungrateful people. 

There the poor beggar lingers until such time as another fellow comes along who takes mercy on him,
cleans him up, shows him love, patience, and mercy. He checks with the beggar periodically and often
finds him in his same old state. But as many times as he finds him in his old state, he just as many
times shows him mercy and restores him. 

This goes on for several years until one day, after the beggar had fallen from grace once again, and
feeling sorry for himself, he had the temerity to accuse his benefactor of being responsible for his
downfall, saying that he was only seeking glory for himself by trying to help him. Well this was too
much for the fellow. He could take anything from the beggar except to have his motive challenged.
The beggar realizes at once that he has gone too far and repents. He begs his friend to forgive him,
but to no avail. The friend is through. His heart is now as hard as stone, hard as the clay that he had
once washed off the beggar's face. He walks away never to see the beggar again. 

Now the beggar is really in a fix. He senses that he has really blown it this time. He is very sorrowful
and full of despair. He is just about to give up when another stranger appears on the scene. With all
the love, the patience, the mercy, and forgiveness, the stranger ministers to his needs. No matter how
many times he offends the stranger, he always forgives him. It seems as if the stranger never tires of
forgiving him his many wrongs. Now the beggar is seeing a true son of the Father, one who never
tires of doing good, one who does not have a paucity of goodness, but rather an endless supply, for
he is hooked continuously to the source of all goodness, God the Father. 

This concludes today's message on grasping the value and understanding the meaning of the story of
a paucity of goodness. We hope you find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you
go about your day. Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry. 


nspirational Messages
       By Dr. James  Perry    
Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!
     A Paucity of the Father's Goodness