Scripture
Matthew 6:19-33 NLT
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need
“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need
Devotion
In the western world there are so many Christians that are weighed down by worries associated with money and provision: ‘Will I have enough?’, ‘Can I pay my bills?’, ‘How can I get what they have?’ This kind of worry can become quite consuming. Then there are the so- called financial ‘experts’ who constantly forecast doom and gloom over the financial market and send people into a panic or even depression over money challenges that MIGHT lie ahead. As Christians, if we’re not careful we too can succumb to doubts and fears concerning our ability to make ends meet.
I can tell you countless testimonies of my own experiences and the experiences of others who made choices to believe that God was greater than any financial lack that they faced, then saw Him miraculously provide for their need. Many of our Bible college students have testified concerning God’s supernatural provision of their college fees when they couldn’t afford to pay them. Likewise, there are countless stories of the miraculous provision of accommodation, furniture, cars and even more recently, a house!
In my own experience I have seen money come in unexpectedly to pay bills that I wasn’t expecting and hadn’t budgeted for. One time my husband and I gave away our last $20 by faith and saw God miraculously provide money for us in response! Because God’s nature is good and He is a good father, He will faithfully provide for His children.
This happens when we put God FIRST in our lives. Putting God first means believing He is our source, our answer, our provider and our very good father. When He is first in our thoughts, first in our affections and first in our actions, fear and worry isn’t a part of our lives. Instead, peace reigns in our hearts; our trust is not in this world or our natural resources, but in God, our provider.
God encourages us to cast all our cares upon Him so why not start afresh today believing that He is greater than any lack of provision. Cast all your worry and anxiety upon Him and centre all of your thoughts and affections on how good your Heavenly Father is. Then get ready for Him to turn up in miraculous ways in your life!
Prayer
Oh Father, you are such a GOOD dad. I believe you are greater than any lack that I am facing right now. I cast all of the cares and worries of this world upon You and I ask You to fill my heart with such anticipation of a great future with You as my provider. I choose to believe You and Your Word over my current situation and I ask for a ‘turn around’ in the area of provision. You once turned a boy’s lunch into a meal for thousands and You are the same yesterday, today and forever. So I choose to believe that You can do the same for me today.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
