Practical Faith - How God Meets Our Needs Series

Practical Faith

“How God Meets Our Needs”

2 Corinthians 9:6-13

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One of the great promises in the Bible is found in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV)

But I know that there are many who say they have needs that haven’t been met, like physical needs, financial, social, and spiritual needs. They say, “If God shall supply all our needs, why aren’t mine being met?”

When this question starts becoming our fall back position, that is, when we start quoting it from memory, then we have a faith problem, because this has nothing to do with God and His ability, but it has everything to do with our faith and trust in God, faith and trust that He knows what He is doing and what we need and what is best for our lives.

Therefore, before we can even get started, there is something we must get settle in our minds and hearts, and that is, it’s not God’s fault. God is holy, righteous, and just. The Bible says that there is no evil or evil intent in God nor is there any variation or tuning (James 1:17), and that all His promises in Christ Jesus are yes and true (2 Corinthians 1:20).

If that is then the case, then how do we answer the question that if God desires to supply all our needs, why do we have so many needs? The answer is that with many of God’s promises there are premises, that is, there’s a condition to be met. God says, “If you will do this, then I will do that.” These are known as the “if – then” promises of God.

We see this in the verse that is often quoted in our desire to see a revival in our land, but rarely is this verse ever followed. It is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

The problem why we aren’t seeing it fulfilled is that we’re not fulfilling our part.

Today I’d like to share with you what the Bible says about how God meets our needs, but let me begin with the premise that God said He’ll supply our needs, not our greeds.

Now, with that out of the way, let’s look at how the Apostle Paul spells this out for us starting with the principle, that is, what God wants us to do. Next is the procedure, that is, how are we to go about doing it. And finally there’s the promise, and all of these can be found in this remarkable passage found in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians church.

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men” (2 Corinthians 9:6-13)

The Principle

Have a Need; Plant a Seed

“But this I say: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV)

When a farmer looks at a barren field and wants to have a crop, he doesn’t just talk about it, nor does he complain that there is no crop. Instead he begins to plant seed. In other words, until the farmer sows some seeds, no crop is ever going to grow.

To have a harvest we have to first plant. Until we sow the seeds of faith we’ll never harvest God’s blessing.

Say we have two farmers in debt. They both have a sack of seeds. One farmer says, “This is all the seed I have, so I’m not going to plant any of them, because once they’re gone, they’re gone.”