God Will Provide

I just finished the book Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. It was a thought-provoking book, giving me a lot to contemplate and pray about. One part of the book that caught my attention was Piper’s discussion of our material needs as Christians, and whether or not God really supplies all our needs.

Piper says that as Christ followers we are called to take risks. He even says that our “obedience is risk.” (Pg. 92) He lists some of the risks we might face as Christ followers (pg. 92-93):

“tribulation” Acts 14:22

“distress” 2 Corinthians 6:4, 12;10

“persecution” Matthew 5:11-12

“danger” 2 Corinthians 11:26

“sword” Acts 12:2

“famine and nakedness”

Piper then goes on to discuss the last risk, of famine and nakedness, claiming that they are the greatest problem. It’s the biggest problem because it boils down to the question: Will God really provide for all my needs?

Jesus says in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”  Then just a few verses later in Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus says “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

These verses make it clear that we do not need to worry about our material needs; God will provide. However, this seems contradictory when compared to the list above of risks that Christ followers might face. Piper poses the question: “Well, which is it? Are Christians subject to ‘famine and nakedness’ or will God provide ‘all these things’ when we need them?” (Pg. 93) Thinking about the believers in the New Testament, we see that many of them were beaten, stripped, and starving. Was God not able to provide for them, or was He choosing not to?

This made me stop and think for a little bit, because it does seem like a huge contradiction. However, Piper’s next section helped to bring clarity. He explains that the statement “all these things” in Matthew 6 means, “that you will have everything you need to do his will and be eternally and supremely happy in him,” (Pg. 94).

Everything you need to do HIS will. Everything you need to be happy IN HIM.

Boom! Understanding finally dawned on me, as I began to grasp this passage in a new way. What I consider “necessary” might not really be a true need for me. God will provide what I need to be able to do His will. Piper writes, “How much food or clothing are necessary? Necessary for what? we must ask. Necessary to be comfortable? No, Jesus did not promise comfort. Necessary to avoid shame? No, Jesus called us to bear shame for his name with joy. Necessary to stay alive? No, he did not promise to spare us death—of any kind…. God does not promise enough food for comfort or life—he promises enough so that you can trust him and do his will.” (Pg. 94)

Maybe this is something that God taught you a long time ago, but to me, right now, this is something new that God is teaching me. It's so convicting, and yet so exciting! It’s convicting to me because it’s a call to focus on HIM and not on the material things that are oh so tempting and eye-catching in this life. It’s convicting to me because it’s a good reminder to not worry and stress about the material things. But, it’s also exciting to me! It’s exciting because I think that if you can begin to grasp this, it will free you. Free you from worrying about the material things, free you from worrying and wondering if God will or will not provide. It’s exciting because it reminds me that God does provide, maybe not in the fashion or capacity that we might think we need, but He is our Provider. 

It brought to mind the song "Enough" by Chris Tomlin, which says:

“All of You is more than enough for all of me

For every thirst and every need

You satisfy me with Your love

And all I have in You is more than enough.”

Our God is sovereign and He is all-knowing, so He will provide what we really need to do His will, and to find true happiness in the only place it can be found: in Him.