There is a great story of how giving to the poor leads to good health. John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Company, became one of the world’s wealthiest men. But his unquenchable thirst for gain at the expense of others was taking a toll on his conscience; and through his conscience, his health was quickly deteriorating. The decline of his health was because GOD has placed in the hearts of men a yearning desire for righteousness. And included in this moral constitution is the desire to bless others and to see them happy. In fact, nothing brings greater joy to a father than knowing his wife and children are safe and secure. The same could be said for our care for friends and neighbors who call on us from time to time. The GOD of heaven even calls for this benevolent love to be shown to our enemies. But this is where a certain kind of love is called for: the Love that only comes from Above; and we are called to invite its Presence in our lives. And that Presence is Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

     But John’s selfish determinations stood against his own convictions of conscience. And thus, he went to see his doctor. His doctor flat-out told him that unless he changed his ways he was going to die. He admonished John to start giving back to the people what he had earned through them. And so, John D. Rockefeller began this new course for his life: a philanthropy whose many accomplishments included wiping out the hookworm disease that plagued the south all across America. He became one of America’s first great philanthropists. As a result of his returning a good portion of what GOD had given him, his health returned, and many years later he died in his sleep “and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years,” at age 97 (Gen.25:8).

     This benefit of philanthropic work is seen not only in the healing of the human body but also the healing of a nation plagued with the blight of poverty such as America today. When we look at how John D. Rockefeller handled his philanthropy he did not waste any money in his work to bless the poor. But the same cannot be said of America’s government leaders. John D. Rockefeller did not waste any time in areas where little or no benefit was gained to benefit the poor. Again, the same cannot be said of today’s American government.

     In order to turn the course of America’s future from one of national ruin to one of national greatness the wisdom of GOD must be employed. And that wisdom is plainly seen in the law of benevolent love. All of life is in harmony with this law, scientifically called Symbiosis. It is the same law that rules the heavens: the same law that Jesus Christ lived by, and died by: the law of benevolent love. It is this law that is the heart of the holiness of GOD. This is the intent of the words: “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” I Chron.16:29. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Rom.13:10.

     When we study the Bible on the rise and fall of the nations through history, it is seen that their advancement or their decline was dependent on two key components: benevolent love shown to man, and unswerving integrity to that love. Historically, every nation who has looked after the poor was preserved under GOD’S watch-care. But by the same token, any nation that sapped the people’s lives with greed and crime, that nation has always fallen. GOD’S Voice, penned through men, has had much to say about man’s inhumanity to man:

“There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.” Prov.30:14.

“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain.” Isa.10:1-4.

“For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.” Isa.32:6,7.

“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth…Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.” Deut.15:6-10.

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” Isa.58:6-12.

     If only our leaders gave honor to these words, how different life could be here. But the lures of sin have commandeered the hearts of men in leadership positions, from the White House and Capital Hill to Wall Street, globalist banks and corporations. And those with power and authority over the lives of others have no concept of what their decisions are causing or where their leadership is tending. “Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” Eccl.9:18. History shows over and over how one man or a group of men have caused their nation’s ruin and incalculable suffering to the lives of their citizens. And we see this very same abuse today. It is just as it was in the days of Judah’s downfall when the LORD spoke through His prophet Jeremiah, “For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children [evil-minded, thoughtless, senseless], and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” Jer.4:22.

     Today, our vulnerability to the ever-increasing assaults of nature, selfishness and industry guarantees that should an economic collapse become imminent a great change in our society’s manner of living will take place. Within this feeble framework a social hatred is brewing in America, and many professed Christians are among them. With the tide of power shifting decisively towards the spirit of tyranny the eventual outcome should be obvious to all. The rise and fall of every nation through history illustrates this same lesson of how the time of a nation’s fall corresponds to its abandonment of “natural affection” and human decency (II Tim.3:1-9). Nazi Germany predicted a thousand year reign. It barely made it to ten. When America takes up the same banner (and it will) its length of days will be similar. Bible prophecy forecast this, thousands of years ago. A nation’s course in allowing sin to rule always leaves destruction in its wake.

     Such is the course of America today. The obvious lessons of history are all there, proving how America is descending slowly but surely into the class of fallen nations. Environmentally, economically, emotionally and morally, America’s leadership today is as disabled as a blind, deaf, paraplegic in a wheelchair, incapable of living a productive life in providing for the needs of the poor. And yet, here they stand: boastful, proud, and arrogant in their ignorance. It cannot be said enough: when the poor of the land are left destitute of practical life support, those who sit atop the finances are as the liar, the thief, and the murder in the eyes of GOD.

     But those who believe in the LORD Jesus Christ and His Words of promise will not despair. Throughout history GOD has maintained a golden thread of virtuous men and women in “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” in whose character is seen the glory of holiness: they feed the hungry, take in the destitute, visit the prisoners, they do all in their power to bless the lives around them. And if America’s leadership were to abide by GOD’S criteria of virtue a wave the prosperity would come and open doors through which the most poverty-stricken man could be restored to the dignity GOD has ordained for every man to receive.

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matt.25:31-40.