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GOD STILL PROVIDES | Do You REALLY Believe This?

“…Why are you discussing [among yourselves] the fact that you have no bread?” – Matthew 16:8 (ESV)
One of the hardest lessons to learn in our walk with God is the fact of God’s ability AND willingness to provide for our needs. We learn early the stories of Elijah and the ravens, of the Zarephath woman, of Manna and Quails for the Israelites etc. but as we grow and come face to face with the issues of this life, these Biblical stories become more and more like a fairy tale.
We claim to believe the Bible accounts, but we find it hard to come to terms with the practical implications of the statement “I am the Lord; I change not (Mal.3:6).” We dare to believe that the Bible accounts happened in the past, but deep down within us, we do not think such mighty acts can be repeated in our time – not to talk of in our lives. We are quick to remind ourselves that “times have changed.”

It's not easy

Now, I do not want to deceive you that it is an easy lesson to learn; and so God, in His infinite mercy, is giving us yet another opportunity to get this fact into our being. Thus, if you – well, I’m sure you must – have learnt this several times in the past and still falter, be sure that you’re not alone. We’re in this together, and Jesus will not let us rest until we get it right – hence this opportunity.
On the mount, Jesus dedicated an appreciable amount of time teaching His disciples on the ability AND willingness of God to meet their needs (see Matt.6:25-34). At a later time, He demonstrated that teaching by feeding the 5000+ crowd with a little boy’s lunch – five loaves and two fishes (Matt.14:14-21). Shortly after that, He made another demonstration of God’s ability to make sufficient for a man what He has provided for him by feeding a crowd of over 4000 with seven loaves and a few fishes (Matt.15:32-38). So, Jesus (in Matt.16:6-11) was rightly disappointed with His disciples for still worrying and discussing about having no bread!
Now, it is a fact – FACT – that these guys have no bread. And it is a fact too that you have no “bread” – whatever that mean to you. It may be that at the moment you are short of cash, or that you are yet to be gainfully employed after several months or years, or that you are yet to secure admission after several attempts, or that you are still struggling or living with some “chronic” sickness, or that you are finding it hard to cope with your studies or work, or whatever. Jesus is not denying that fact neither is He asking you to deny it.
But He is not happy that we make it the topic of our discussion and object of our meditation. Isn’t it surprising that even among Christians, when they gather, the agenda for discussion usually centre on how to increase income, improve living conditions, get more “food” to eat, “clothes” to wear and “houses” to live in. Let’s face it: we worry a lot about our needs; and Jesus is certainly not happy with that. He still says to us, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?”

The Greater Fact

Yes, our current predicament is a fact. But there is a GREATER fact: that God is able to take care of our needs and situations – ALL of them. Coming to terms with this second fact will mark the beginning of our rest in God and our experience of “peace that passes all understanding.” Yes, we know it objectively (as a doctrine) but then it requires great faith to trust God to do it in our lives.
Jesus wants us to trust Him to (1) make available to us what we need for life and godliness; and (2) to make sufficient whatever He supplies even when the supply seems meagre. As children of God, Jesus wants us to discuss (cf. Mal.3:16); but the topic is not to be on the fact of our circumstances, rather on His unchanging nature and its implications to us (cf. Heb.13:5-6). Even a little stock taking will reveal to us the magnitude of God’s faithfulness in meeting our needs and in making what we have sufficient for us. If you have come this far in life – and if you can read this yourself – then indeed God has been very good to you. And He is not going to change!
We may not be as privileged or as endowed as Brother B or Sister S or even our unbeliever-colleagues; but we can be sure that WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED TO US at the moment WILL BE ENOUGH TO DO ALL GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO at the moment. So, there is absolutely no need to “measure up,” to covet; rather we’re called to be content with what we have (Heb.13:5-6). As our Saviour taught us, so we should pray, “Give us day by day our daily bread (Luke 11:3 (KJV)).”
In conclusion, let these lines speak to you.
Trust God as a child of His love,
Trust in Him to guide you with His eye;
Trust God for the blessings of life,
For these He will supply.
Trust God at the coming of grief,
Trust in Him to soothe its bitter pain;
Trust God ‘mid the burdens of life,
To strengthen and sustain.
[Chorus]
Trust God as He has told you, and look to Hi from day to day;
Put your trust in God, as the guardian of your way.
(SS&S 563:1&3)
“Now that you know this truth, how happy [blessed] you will be if you put it into practice!”
– Jesus Christ (John 13:17 GNB).
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