“You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16). God’s hand is ever open toward you! David’s Psalm of praise quoted above, is proof of a bountiful God.
The Bible often assesses character in terms of a hand. It is said of the righteous ones “He who has clean hands” (Psalm 24:4). And speaking of the generosity of God the Psalmist says “You open your hand.” Yes, God is a God that gives and keeps on giving. Giving is an attribute of God. Let us see briefly in what manner God gives.
God Gives To All Alike
God has no reservations for a particular people or some favourite persons. God gives to all alike. Consider nature. The sun, the rain, the rich earth. Nature gives alike to all men, good or bad. God has not taken into account whether you have spurned His love or broken His laws, He gives to all alike.
God gives His spiritual gifts to all who believe. It has been calculated that there are 7,487 promises in the Bible, given by God to man. Each one of these is a promise that God will give to us when we meet the particular condition mentioned. All may partake of God’s gifts, they are provided for everyone. God gives to all alike.
God’s Gifts Are Free
The prophet Isaiah says that God’s gifts “are without money and without price.” God has no excess water rate! God’s gifts are free. He makes no charge. “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!” says David in Psalm 68:19. Be the gift large or small, God makes no charge.
Does it cost anything to sense the presence of Christ or enter into the saving experience like Paul? No, God’s gifts are free. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Yes, God’s hands are ever open toward you, and His gifts are free.
God’s Gifts Are Continuous
God not only gives to all alike, and makes no charge for His gifts, but God’s gifts are also continuous. Seedtime and harvest fail not. The seasons continue to bring refreshment and nourishment to nature. God does not make one gift to mankind and then leave them to it. God is always giving — giving is the nature of God. (How unlike man!)
God’s spiritual gifts are also continuous. His gift of power at Pentecost continues to this day. His gift of divine healing is still experienced in a large number of churches in this modern age. Above all, His greatest gift, the salvation of a man’s soul, is being daily experienced by all who have found that Christ is the answer to all life’s problems. God’s spiritual gifts are continuous to all who meet the conditions of faith and trust in Him.
God Gives According To Need
The apostle Paul reveals to us in Philippians 4:19 this great truth, “And my God will supply every need of yours.” Listen to it again: “And my God will supply every need of yours.” He has not promised to lay before you everything you want in life, but He has said with a wonderful note of certainty that He will supply every need of yours.” The revival of man’s cold heart begins at the place of personal need — a need of Christ’s gifts for your life.
All our problems can be summed up in an unwillingness to take what is in the open hand of God. We fear it might involve us in something we may not desire. We fear He will also ask us to do something we may not want to do. Our problems will disappear when we put our hand into the open hand of God. He has said, with no uncertainty, “I will supply all your need.”
The Psalmist of old looked around and saw all things that were needful. He looked within and saw all things sufficient, and burst forth into praise for such a bountiful God. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised … I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness … The Lord is good to all … You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145, verses 3,6,7,9,16).
How can we explain this blessed truth? Listen to the hymnwriter as he says: “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”
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