“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Charles Goodyear was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1800. He had no formal education, and in 1821 he went into partnership with his father in a hardware business that later failed. Goodyear experimented for many years to find some means of improving natural rubber so it would not become brittle when cold or soft when hot. In 1839, Goodyear was thrown into debtors’ prison. While in prison, Goodyear worked in the kitchen and he discovered, by accidentally dropping on a hot stove a piece of rubber that had been treated with sulfur, that when rubber and sulfur are heated together at a high temperature a rubber with the desirable properties results. This process, called vulcanization, is still the basis of the rubber-manufacturing industry. In the United States and Europe he was engaged in unsuccessful litigation over his patents, which brought wealth to others. Goodyear died in poverty.

But Goodyear was never bitter over any of these events. He wrote: “Life should not be estimated exclusively by the standard of dollars and cents. I am not disposed to complain that I have planted and others have gathered the fruits. A man has cause for regret only when he sows and no one reaps.”

Injustice and hard times will strike all of us. However, we can live above these circumstances as we look to Jesus Christ, our Hope and our Redeemer. Are you able to give thanks for all that comes your way? Today in prayer, thank the Lord for all that has come into your life and place your hope in Him.

“The children of God are expected to ‘abound in thanksgiving.'” – F.F. Bruce

God’s Word: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2001 pkennedy@devotional.com