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For
the Love of Man
Two
billionaire philanthropists, Microsoft founder Bill
Gates and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have
jointly contributed $375 million in a global effort to
cut smoking. Gates
and Bloomberg have stated that the money they are
donating will help curb smoking in developing
countries where tobacco use is highest.
According
to the Associated Press, “the $250 million from
Bloomberg and $125 million from Gates will support
projects that raise tobacco taxes, help smokers quit,
ban tobacco advertising and protect nonsmokers from
exposure to smoke, their foundations said.”
The money will be channeled toward
tobacco-fighting campaigns in countries such as
China
and
India
.
“Tobacco-caused
diseases have emerged as one of the greatest health
challenges facing developing countries,” Gates said
in a statement. *
In
addition to the successful financial ventures for
which they are well known, Gates and Bloomberg are
also philanthropists.
Merriam-Webster defines “philanthropy” as
“goodwill to fellowmen; especially:
active effort to promote human welfare.”
The word comes from a Greek word, philanthropia,
which contains the root words philos
(“love”) and anthropos
(“man”), “the love of man.”
By definition, therefore, philanthropists are
those who promote human welfare out of love for
mankind.
Many
wonderful philanthropic efforts have been made through
the years, but none so great as one presented by GOD!
“But
when the kindness and the love [Gr. philanthropia]
of God our
Savior toward man appeared, not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His
mercy...... HE SAVED US, through the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit”
(Titus 3:4-5).
The
greatest problem of all humanity is SIN.
“For ALL have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and
condemns us to DEATH (Romans 6:23). But God loved us
so much that He gave us His Son, who went to the cross
to pay the price for our redemption from sin (John
3:16; Ephesians 1:7).
We
become the benefactors of this great act of
philanthropy when we: believe
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31),turn from our sins in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
Then, as we “walk in the light” of His Word
in faithful obedience, the blood of Jesus continues to
cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).
For
the love of man, God sent His Son to die for
our sins so that we might have forgiveness and eternal
home with Him.
Now,
for the love of
God, won’t YOU
respond in trusting obedience?
--
David
A. Sargent, Minister
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
Information gleaned from Associate Press article: “Bloomberg, Gates Join to Fight Smoking” from CBS News --
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories
and http://www.forthright.net/heavenly_connections/true_philanthropy.html
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