The reason Jesus tells us we don’t have to worry and fret is because we have a heavenly Father who knows all our needs and who provides for us. (Matt 6:25-34) So often, we don’t believe that God cares enough to look after our earthly needs, but Jesus reminds us that our God cares for the birds and the flowers and we are more valuable in His sight! Instead of fretting, trying to sort out impossible situations in our own strength or wondering how God will step in, we need to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. We need to seek the Giver more than we seek the gift.
God’s provision can come in a myriad different ways: in the wilderness, He provided manna and quail for His people to eat (sending a double portion of manna on the day before the Sabbath so that the people did not have to work on that day!) He also ensured that their clothes and sandals did not wear out! (Deut 29:5) Other examples of wild and wonderful means of provision include:
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a raven bringing food and drink to Elijah each morning and evening (1 Kings 17:2-6),
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a jug of oil and small amount of flour which made bread each day during a time of famine (1 Kings 17:16)
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a boy’s picnic lunch of 5 loaves and 2 fish being able to feed five thousand men (not counting the women and children) and still having 12 baskets of leftovers! (John 6:1-15)
We have seen God’s provision for us as a church (when buying this building, we only had just over £7,500 in the bank, but as we gave all we had, we saw God provide over £170,000 through grants and loans and were able to repay all loans before the sale of our old building went through) and as individuals, but faith means trusting God rather than looking to what we can see and work out with our own eyes. Only as we seek God and spend time with Him, learning His generous heart and practising generosity ourselves, can we live in the blessing of God (see 2 Cor 9:6-12). God’s generosity is poured out on us not so that we can become rich hoarders, counting our money like the farmer who wanted to build bigger barns. Instead, He gives us something so we can then give away, so we can bless others. God blesses us so that all the ends of the earth will fear Him. (Ps 67:6-7) He blesses us so we can bless others. Jesus told us it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35) May we learn to live carefree before God because He is most careful with us. (1 Pet 5:7, The Message)
