Around 1870 New York City had one of the most hotly contested mayoral races in its history.

The incumbent was Mayor John Tweed–Boss Tweed he was called. He was running for reelection. The Boss Tweed machine represented politics at its very worst. The entire administration was corrupt to the core.

A number of dedicated people decided that they were fed up with this kind of politics and the good people of the city took on the Boss Tweed element. At first they seemed to make headway. But as the campaign drug on they began to feel the pressures of machine politics. Many of these good people began to drop out.

When the election was held and the results counted, to many people’s disappointment, they discovered that Boss Tweed had been reelected.

The next day the New York Times ran an editorial and analyzed what had happened. It said: “The good people quit being good before the bad people quit being bad.”

Isn’t that so often our dilemma. We are not tenacious with goodness in politics or in life. We throw up our hands in disgust. If we don’t have instant information, gratification or affirmation, then we throw in the towel. The same thing is often true with prayer. We throw in the towel when we feel our prayers are not being answered.

Think of an example where: “The good people quit being good before the bad people quit being bad.”  

GOD, PLEASE GIVE ME A LISTENING HEART!

Someone you know would enjoy today’s Daily Treat. Please share it.