There once lived a kindly, old vicar in England named Samuel Wilberforce.

By the way, it’s probably a true story, given that Bishop Wilberforce used to tell it about himself.

Anyway, to continue.

One night, while musing about God in his study, he was struck by the notion that there were many wicked people in London.

As he pursued the thought, it occurred to him that there were even more wicked people if one considered all of England.

From there he went to the realization that the number of wicked people in the whole of the British Empire was even greater.

And finally, the good vicar was forcibly struck by the obvious conclusion that the number of wicked people in the entire world was legion.

Feelings of anxiety swept over him, for didn’t the Bible say that God punishes the wicked? How could he, Samuel Wilberforce, in good conscience, allow that to happen?

After much thought and soul-searching, he decided that he, a bishop of the church, was going to save them, and he was going to do so by praying for their forgiveness. He would fall to his knees, and spend the entire night, if need be, in supplication, no matter the pain.

Having so decided, he knelt and began to pray. Hours passed, and Bishop Wilberforce continued in prayer to intercede with God on behalf of the wicked.

Suddenly, about three o’clock in the morning, the good vicar heard God answer his prayers, "Samuel," God said, "You can go to bed now. I’ll take charge of the universe for the rest of the night."

So, to all my loving but misguided friends who are so concerned that without their help the "disadvantaged" (whoever they may be) will go down the drain, "God's in His Heaven, [and] all's right with the world."    

Think about it.