But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.
Matthew 17:27 (NIV)
Scripture: Matthew 17: 24-27
One thing the Bible tells us is that God will provide for us. We don’t always see this because we are expecting (hoping) for something different. This devotion will look at how God does provide for us.
Do you know how many times I hoped and prayed that the great-great-great-…great-grandson of that fish showed up in my pond? I sure could use the tax money. And if there was a little left over to pay off another bill or two, I wouldn’t complain. Somehow, though, that’s never happened.
Aren’t we like that? Hope a large sum of money will just show up to take care of all our bills? Sometimes, we may try the lottery (if it is a really big amount), knowing the odds are really stacked against us. Or we try to hit it lucky on the slot machines.
Sometimes, we’ll even settle for enough to pay some off the bills. Once, if the radio station I listen to didn’t play 12 songs in a row, the 93rd caller was going to win $1,000. Okay, that was really a long shot, but I kept praying, “Please, Lord, we really need the money right now. A couple of bills haven’t been paid for a couple of months, and they are starting to call for the money. This thousand bucks could get us in a position to get on top of things again.” The answer was “no.”
Later that day I had to go get a prescription filled and go to the grocery store. I had $20 to my name. We had a prescription card, which my then husband told me required only a $5 co-payment. So, I was all set.
Except the prescription was $10. The pharmacist must have read the disappointment on my face. Ten dollars was not going to be enough to buy diapers, milk, lunch meat and salad dressing. (I know, an interesting combination, but when you are trying to stretch things, you really stretch sometimes.)
When I went to pick up my prescription, he asked if I was going to make it. I said something like that cut into my grocery bill.
The pharmacist loaned me $5. He didn’t know me, except he had filled prescriptions for me every now and then. But he said everyone needed to eat and gave me $5. My grocery bill came to $13.90 so, with his $5, I had just enough.
God provides just enough – not what we hope and dream of – but what we need. He provided just enough manna and quail in the dessert (Ex. 16: 16-18). He provided just enough money for me to get my groceries.
The Bible tells of God’s promise to provide for us. Philippians 4: 19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (ESV). It isn’t based on my needs or wants; it is based on His riches. He is Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has unlimited resources from which to supply our needs.
God provides exactly what we need. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (Jas. 1: 17 ESV). He will not pull his provision from us because He has changed His mind. He will provide, and provide abundantly.
Sometimes, though, we don’t see what God has provided. We expect God to do things with Hollywood splash. He expects us to use ordinary means to take care of what we can.
But even if my story didn’t have the Hollywood splash, to me it was kind of extraordinary. How many times do we offer money to acquaintances, let alone strangers?
This story was about God providing for my physical needs. Really, though, that isn’t God’s focus. He focuses on the spiritual.
Yes, God knows it is easier for us to focus on Him when our spiritual needs have been met. However, He is more interested in furthering His kingdom.
Ultimately, what we will be provided will be what we need to grow our relationship with Him. We will be provided what we need to perform our work in God’s kingdom.
God didn’t provide for me in a big way, but He used one of His children to help me. That’s extraordinary to me.
God will provide for you also. You just have to keep faith that He will. It may not be exactly as you are expecting as it wasn’t for me. It will, however, be exactly what you need.
Merciful Father. There are so many times that we look to You to take care of us in a way that will set us up for good times for life. You don’t do that because You know the trials we face keep us looking to You. But You do find ways to provide for us. Lord, forgive us for being greedy and only wanting the easy life. Help us to want the life You want for us more each day. Amen.
What do you think? How has God provided just what you needed when you needed it? What is your story? Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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Throughout my life there have been many times that has happened to me and I have said out loud God is good. He knows just when I need that little extra. And as you said there have been times when I have thought if only. If only I won this or that how much easier life would be for me. And I guess that is the optimal thought provoking word… me. Thank you Elaine for your powerful messages. ?
Linda, isn’t our God such a wonderful God that He will come to us with just what we need! Yes, we do focus on the “me.” Luckily, He does, too, to grow us for Him.