Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's Love

We must help unbelievers realize that they misread the abundant common blessings of this life as a sign that God must love them. For example, some think their case is good because God has given them outward blessings, and accompanies those blessings with patience and long-suffering. Because God has given them abilities, gifts, place, and reputation, they begin to reason, 'Certainly God must love me.' But if someone would examine their lives, they would find that there is no evidence of God's special love to them at all. Such must be convinced, that they dare not measure God's love by these outward things. That which is common to everyone cannot be a sign of God's love. Abraham gave Ishmael many temporary things but to Isaac he gave the inheritance (Gen. 25:5, 6). Esau had his portion in the things of this life, but Jacob went away with the blessing. God fills their bellies with abundance of outward things, whose hearts he never fills with his love (Luke 16:25). Further, God's patience in enduring me in such a state as I am in, is also no argument. God is patient with them to lead them to repentance, yet they do not make a right use of God's patience. God, after his patience, is justified in his vengeance and judgment. What about an abundance of good circumstances and giftedness? Didn't Judas have excellent circumstances? Judas was an apostle. As for giftedness, Ahithophel and Saul had great gifts of leadership. All these are no evidence of the love of God.
If their consciences are prompted to see that they are laid open to the wrath of God, then Satan soothes their consciences and makes them reason, 'As for such a wretch as I, there is no hope; I might as well continue on in my sinful course, and enjoy abundance in this world, than to be without heaven and the comforts of this life, too.' Satan keeps them in darkness, because they think there is no hope of another course, and that it is impossible they could be made right with God.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Matchless Love and Inbeing, Works, vol. 6, p. 390
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