DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR NEEDS BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOD WHO IS OUR PROVIDER
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1. WE SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT OUR NEEDS . INSTEAD WE SHOULD HAVE FAITH IN GOD OUR PROVIDER . IN TIMES OF NEED AND DIFFICULTY WE SHOULD BE STRONG IN FAITH EXPECTING A MIRACLE FROM GOD . DOUBT ,UNBELIEF ,FEAR AND WORRY WILL ONLY HINDER US FROM RECEIVING GOD’S PROVISION.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6 :25-34
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. " Hebrews 11:6
"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; " James 1 :6-7
"The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" Luke 17 :5
2. WE SHOULD WORK HARD AND LABOUR WITH ALL OUR MIGHT . THE LORD WILL BLESS THE LABOUR OF OUR HANDS AND PROSPER US AND MEET ALL OUR NEEDS. THERE IS NO PROMISE OF BLESSING TO THOSE WHO ARE LAZY . WE SHOULD NOT BE LAZY AND EXPECT OTHERS TO HELP US. THE LORD HAS NOT COMMANDED ANYONE TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE LAZY AND WANT TO BE A BURDEN TO OTHERS.
" Lazy hands make a man poor,but diligent hands bring wealth." Proverbs 10:4
" The sluggard craves and gets nothing,but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. " Proverbs 13:4
" A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. " Proverbs 20:4
" The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him,because his hands refuse to work. " Proverbs 21:25
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." II Thessalonians 3:10
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. " I Thessalonians 4:11-12
3. WE SHOULD GIVE GENEROUSLY TO GOD AND TO OTHERS IN NEED. THIS WILL CAUSE THE LORD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT HIS BLESSING ON US. GIVING IS LIKE SOWING AND WHEN WE SOW GENEROUSLY WE WILL RECEIVE AN ABUNDANT HARVEST. THERE IS A SPECIAL BLESSING TO THOSE WHO GIVE COMPASSIONATELY TO THE POOR AND THE NEEDY.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6 :38
""Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me."But you ask, ’How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. " Malachi 3 :8-12
"Honor the LORD with your wealth,with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. " Proverbs 3 :9-10
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. " II Corinthians 9:6-7
" He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,and he will reward him for what he has done. " Proverbs 19:17
" One man gives freely, yet gains even more;another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper;he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. " Proverbs 11:24-25
" A generous man will himself be blessed,for he shares his food with the poor. " Proverbs 22:9
" He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. " Proverbs 28:27
"and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.You will be like a well-watered garden,like a spring whose waters never fail. " Isaiah 58 :10-11
" He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well.Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD. " Jeremiah 22:16
4. WE SHOULD HAVE A GRATEFUL HEART AND GIVE THANKS UNTO GOD FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE RECEIVED. WE SHOULD PRAISE HIM AND WORSHIP HIM EVEN IN TIMES OF NEED AND DIFFICULTY . WE SHOULD NOT MURMUR AND COMPLAIN AND BECOME BITTER AND ENVIOUS . INSTEAD WE SHOULD DELIGHT OURSELVES IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEART.
" Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. " Habakkuk 3 :17-18
" Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits- " Psalms 103 :1-2
" Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;for like the grass they will soon wither,like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good;dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways,when they carry out their wicked schemes. " Psalms 37:1-7
5. WE SHOULD HAVE CONTENTMENT AND NOT BECOME COVETEOUS AND GREEDY . THE LOVE OF MONEY WILL DESTROY OUR LIVES . THE LORD HAS PROMISED TO MEET OUR NEED AND NOT OUR GREED. LET US LEARN TO BE SATISFIED WITH BLESSINGS THAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN TO US AND AVOID BECOMING JEALOUS OF OTHERS AND THEIR WORLDLY POSSESSIONS.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain.For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. " I Timothy 6:6-11
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. " I Timothy 6:17-19
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. " Philippians 4 :10-13
6. WE SHOULD EXAMINE OURSELVES IN TIMES OF NEED AND DIFFICULTY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE LORD IS TEACHING US . THE LORD LED HIS PEOPLE THROUGH THE WILDERNESS TO TEACH HIS PEOPLE TO DEPEND UPON HIM ALONE AND TO FIND OUT IF THEY WOULD OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS. WE SHOULD ALSO EXAMINE OUR LIVES FOR ANY AREAS WHICH NEED CORRECTION ESPECIALLY IF OUR OWN FAILURES HAVE CAUSED US TO GO THROUGH SUCH DIFFICULTIES.
" Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. " Deuteronomy 8 :2-3
" Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. " Psalm 119 :67
" It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. " Psalm 119:71
7. WE SHOULD EARNESTLY ASK THE LORD TO MEET OUR NEEDS. HE IS OUR PROVIDER . WE SHOULD ASK HIM TO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE WEALTH AND TO SHOW US THE WAY OF PROSPERITY . THE LORD LOVES US AND DESIRES TO BLESS US AND PROSPER US AND MEET OUR NEEDS . THEREFORE WE MUST SEEK HIM WITH ALL OUR HEART AND DEPEND UPON HIS PROVISION INSTEAD OF RELYING ON OUR OWN RESOURCES AND ABILITIES.
" You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. " Deuteronomy 8: 17-18
" This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:"I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. " Isaiah 48:17
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. " Philippians 4:19
"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. " III John 2
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. " II Corinthians 8:9
"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? " Romans 8:32
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