Benign Neglect

“You are my God. My times are in Your hand.” Psalm 31:15 NKJV

“Benign neglect is simply failing to choose the right thing.”

My thoughts today are about benign neglect.”

An insurance company advertises, “You are in good hands with . .” their company, and calls their employees “the ‘good hands’ people.” I know something even better. The Psalmist said, “You are my God. My times are in Your hands.” Psalm 31:15 NIV. One thing I know confidently is this: you are in the best of hands when you and your times are in God’s hands!

In intimate circles of friends or large crowds, people gathered around the world to mark the final seconds of an old year and celebrate the beginnings of a New Year. However difficult the previous year seemed, there seems an indiscouragable optimism that a new year will be better.

Jesus told the story of a very wealthy, successful man whose prideful inventory showed he had enough and to spare. He projected a favorable future for himself, until God spoke, “Tonight your soul shall be required of you!” See Luke 12:16-21. His future was not in his own hands as he thought. He waited until it was too late; sadly, he would not have a new and better year. There is a difference between anticipation and presumption. Entering this year, you do not know the future but God does, and your times are safely held in His loving hands.

Though David sinned and faced the judgment of God for his disobedience, he trusted himself into God’s hands rather than the hands of men. See 1 Chronicles 21:1-13 NIV. David found it is never too late to place your life in God’s hands, and you will find that true as well. The truth is simple: as long as there is life, it is never too late – not too late to change your mind, your habits, your attitudes, your marriage and family, or your direction and destination, thereby changing your life.

How you choose to live now determines the eternity you will experience. The Bible plainly states, “Indeed God is ready to help you right now; today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT. Eternity is certain. Today? Not so much! “I give them eternal life . . and no one can snatch them, out of My hand . . no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” John 10:28-29 NIV. Now that’s an incalculable security!

The Bible warns those who “. . neglect so great a salvation?” Hebrews 2:3. Most people do not mean to neglect eternal matters; it’s more a matter of benign neglect – busy themselves with temporal things rather than eternal. See 2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV. Benign neglect is not so much choosing the wrong thing as simply failing to choose the right thing. Neglect is rarely one’s intention, usually just a tragic oversight.

That too easily happens everyday in matters such as health, finance, or marriage and family. It is tragic when that happens in spiritual matters that are truly life and death – matters of eternal import and consequence. When you understand your “times are in God’s hands,” you can be assured your future is bright and possibilities limitless. God provides not only a new year but a new life! In God’s hands, your soul is safe and your life is blessed; that should be true of you.

My prayer for you today is that you rest your life in good hands, God’s hands.