What Does The Bible Instruct Us About Benevolence Of God To understand a benevolent God we need to understand the biblical scripture Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
In the Bible, Job remarks that, as God’s creations and recipients of His benevolence, we have no right to complain when He allows us to endure afflictions or hardships. Even in these times, we still reap the benefits of His goodness because it is good for us to be afflicted, and to receive correction. After all, these trials will eventually benefit us. The result will always show God’s goodness.
Let us look at the scripture that demonstrates God’s benevolence.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This scripture shows how much God loves us so that he was willing to allow his only Son to die for our sins.
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Because of God’s benevolence, we have the opportunity to do good and reject evil.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. God is telling us to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
1 Corinthians 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. These instructions from God are because of his benevolence to us.
One of God’s fundamental benevolence is the instructions which he gave us in the book of Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Matthew 5:43-48 You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
The ultimate importance of benevolence can be found in the book of Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandments, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.
