This is a question with which many Christians struggle. Should we wait for a job to come along or should we create our own? Should we wait for a spouse or actively go out and date? Should we hope that someone gives us a little extra grocery money or should we take action and find a few ways to save money at the grocery store? Will God take care of your needs?
Viewing the world as a miraculous creation, it’s easy to see how God would take care of our needs. After all, if everything is a miracle, why wouldn’t he do the miraculous to get us out of difficult situations?
On the other hand, we do know that bad things happen to good people. Think of 9/11. Think of the holocaust. Did God take care of those people’s needs?
While both of the above perspectives have some merit, it’s hard to imagine God allowing them to coequally exist. Why is this? Why does God take care of some people’s needs and not others?
Personally, I think part of the answer lies in Heaven. Ultimately, if we choose Jesus as our savior, God will take care of all of our needs in Heaven.
But then you ask, “Well yes, but what about in this life?”
The Bible makes it clear that we shouldn’t worry about our needs in this world. But it doesn’t say we shouldn’t do anything about those needs. Consider this passage:
“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 than food, and the body more 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers 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—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 (NIV)
The overall theme here is to not become preoccupied with our needs to the point that it worries us and distracts us from what we should first put our focus on: God’s kingdom and his righteousness.
But I think there’s something else here we need to be aware of. Notice how this passage explains that after seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness, all of “these” things – clothing and food – will be added to us as well?
So yes, God will take care of the bare essentials of his children – perhaps more?
The Bible does make it clear that we are to work to make a profit. We can’t just sit back and relax, we’re going to have to use our God-given talents and abilities to make a profit. Consider this verse:
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. – Proverbs 14:23 (NIV)
If we’re seeking the Lord’s will and follow it, God will provide for our needs. But remember, following the Lord’s will means hard work, and hard work means a profit. Interesting how that works, isn’t it? But if we’re the body of Christ, that seems to make more sense, doesn’t it?
There are so many different points of view on this topic. I’m not claiming to have all the answers. But I’d love to hear your opinion on this topic in the comments.
What do you think? Will God take care of all of your needs?