God Supplies Need
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
Do you trust in God to supply your need? Do you claim every promise in His Word as absolute truth? The God we serve is no liar! Yet still His ways are so far above our comprehension, it takes very much time and patience to understand the nature of God’s ways and promises.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11
Even still higher above this is the sovereignty of God in the lives of His children. Because of His love, we can claim to be the friends of God (John 15:15); yet our friendship with the Lord is quite unlike our friendships in human flesh! We have to obey this friend!
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
During these past 18 months, we can give enthusiastic support to the statement, “our God supplies need.” He has never been like a genie that we can wish to, and the prayer processes we have been led into often involve purging, and patient persistence.
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. Proverbs 8:20,21
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:3-5
We need to trust in the Lord according to the precious promises He has given us in His Word. God knows our need before we ask (Matthew 6:8), praise to His name! The real difficulty for us is, is that God will seldom provide the need in the way we think He should. God knows the need we have in truth, and not based upon our feelings or otherwise limited perceptions. To depend upon the Lord for who He is, brings Him the glory which He deserves and desires. We are told plainly in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory I will not give to another.”
Jesus Christ needs to be the Lord of our lives. If we truly love Him, we will keep His words (John 14:21-23). This will be not just a keeping of some words, but “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”—from Matthew 4:4. Many lose faith quickly, and give up. But God wants us to know Him for who He really is, not only with respect to how He fulfills our desires.
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Psalm 50:21
When we receive Christ as our savior, we become a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17); old things pass away, and all things become new. This is primarily reflected in our desire to serve and please God in all that we do or think. We become the Lord’s own, and will be more and more increasingly Spirit-led, rather than continually existing in the rebellion of our sinful flesh.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:13
One scripture passage that reflects this change is found in Matthew 20:1-15. I also think that it is often misunderstood, or incorrectly applied. Let’s take a closer look at this parable right now.
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Matthew 20:1-15
We find in this story an householder (property owner) going out to hire laborers for his vineyard. Some he hired very early in the day, some mid-morning, at noon, and even very late in the day (verses 1-7). I hope you will notice that there was no shortage of work! All of these “hires” received exactly the same wage as every other laborer that had been hired. In other words, those that had worked only 1 hour, received the same amount as those which had worked 9 hours or longer. It is easy to see, that by any earthly sense of fairness, this was not right! See verses 8-12 for this.
What we need to remember, is that this parable is not about men’s standards of right and wrong, but about God’s standards. This parable is partially revealing to us what the kingdom of heaven is like. The conclusion of this matter is summed up in the first part of verse 15, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?” Yes, God is supremely righteous in all His decrees, high above the supposedly “good” moral standards of mankind (Isaiah 64:6).
In the past, many times I had come to this parable without considering it more deeply. Initially, I thought this story was a reference to salvation; how some may be saved at an early age, and serve God for many years; while others may only be saved upon their deathbeds. Both receive salvation that can only come through faith in Jesus Christ, but at differing points in their lives. Both will then receive heaven in reward.
Yet does this really make sense, if we are considering the true message of this story? We must hold up this parable in light of other scriptures that the Lord has provided for us.
It is of course true, that since salvation comes by grace, the number of years with which one gets to serve the Lord will not make a difference so far as going to heaven is concerned. In this sense, going to heaven after being saved could be regarded as a type of “equal reward” for every true follower of Christ.
Yet the Bible indicates that there will be varying measures of reward in heaven. Scripture has many references to this, but here are some of those; Matthew 16:27, Luke 6:23, I Corinthians 3:8-15, Colossians 3:23,24, Hebrews 10:35, Revelation 2:10,17,26, 3:12, 11:18, and 22:12. Therefore if the rest of the Bible shows us that there will be varying reward in heaven, then this story cannot be talking about that. No, these verses are speaking of the sovereignty of God in the lives of His servants. It is lawful for Him to deal with His own as He sees fit! God takes time to show us this, because it is indeed one thing to proclaim that Jesus is the Lord, but quite another for Him to actually be your Lord (Luke 6:46). We need to follow Christ to the places He leads us to, as well as in each specific way that He guides us there. We must continue learning to completely forsake our own ways, in favor of His. We must surrender ourselves to become as clay in the hands of the potter.
Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:3-6
This is not a favored concept in the organized church today, and far less still in the hearts of the world around us. A world in which men are primarily lovers of their own selves, highminded, and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (II Timothy 3:1-5). We can no longer be called the “church” in Laodicea, but rather, the church of Laodiceans; this said, we who profess Christ have become indistinguishable from the unsaved world around us (see Revelation 3:14-19). Yet these concepts of submission, and self-denial are crucial aspects in what is expected of us by God. The great I AM is unchangeably the same; His concept of what true holiness is has not changed.
Modern religion tends to promote the view that Christians will be healthy, well-liked, and have financial abundance (concepts of being rich may vary). Such teachings are understandably well-received! But a servant is not above his Lord (Matthew 10:24), and as Christ was sent into this world, we are likewise sent (John 17:18). Though we day-by-day receive great mercy and blessing from our Father, our way will not be materially prosperous. This passage we have studied in Matthew is not alone in conveying to us the message of submission to our God. More scripture will be given a bit later.
As Jamie and I headed into this time of a total dependency on God, the need for a car (auto; automobile) seemed certain. Many times I had sought the Lord in regard to this matter. Though some may purchase cars for pleasure, status, or pride, our considerations were plainly not from such unsavory motives! In America, our whole society has been built around the car. It is extremely difficult, and even dangerous to try to get by without one. I had great peace regarding our need of a car!
It was therefore a great surprise, when the Holy Spirit began moving us to surrender it (the car). Yet the leading we had at that point was also undeniable. We didn’t know why God would want this, but He did. So on the morning of July 20, 2009 we drove our car (for the last time) to the auction house. Even in doing this drastic thing, I was sure that before long we would have another, better car. After all, doesn’t God reward obedience? What I came to be reminded of, again, is that the Lord’s reward system is tailored much differently than our own!
The timing of this “sacrifice” we had made was truly of God. The sale of the car brought us some much needed financial relief; both directly, and from the reduced expense of having a car (gas, insurance, upkeep). Amazingly enough, the Lord also used the surrender of the car to bring things to light in a number of personal relationships we had. Some who were professing to know Christ as savior, plainly did not! We came to see a pattern; that when our walk with the Lord grows closer, Satan loves to bring attacks through false Christians. He uses them to steer us off course, though making it seem to be a move of God (Like in I Kings 13:11-22). Also, the deeper that we grow in the Lord, the greater will be the depth of these deceptions!
Those first months passed with the pinch of great inconvenience. Anything we had to do away from home, took much longer! We walked, or rode bicycle to do our shopping. Even so, what we could purchase was at times limited by what we could physically carry. Still, there was the optimism that it would all be over soon. It would in fact require a miracle, for we had barely enough money for rent, food, and utilities, let alone the amount we would need for the purchase and upkeep of a car.
We had some reason to think that October would bring us deliverance. It did not. And the end of October saw much colder weather moving in; making travel more difficult, and expenses increase with the need for heating oil. How was God going to provide a car?
In the meantime, our Lord mercifully provided us with much appreciated relief. Occasionally Jamie’s Mom and Dad would offer rides to stores and such. And God also moved our neighbor to offer us the use of her car anytime. We did not abuse this, of course; but there were times when weather, or the physical weight of our needs really required a car. This was very important! The snow we had here last winter was probably the heaviest it has ever been in my lifetime. God knew it, and in His mercy He made a way.
Jamie and I eventually returned to secular work in February. Come March, I was starting to see that we could save a little money. And yet the potential cash needed for buying a decent used car, and the expenses that go with it, seemed very far away! We kept praying for God’s provision, thinking that we needed a direct monetary “windfall” blessing to be able to afford a car soon. Just by saving, it seemed that it would be late this year or early next year until we could buy one.
Yet I knew that it was possible with God to maximize our purchasing power with little savings! We already knew (by experience and research) that Hondas and Toyotas are very reliable, and long-lived. But we would only be able to afford such a vehicle through a private sale, as car dealers’ sales always include a considerable price mark-up.
Our heavenly Father had it all worked out, praise His name! We were very close to the purchase of another vehicle, for $1,000; but the Lord held us back. Yet at the time we had to purchase car insurance, which we then had in place to continue looking. In America, you are not allowed (by law) to purchase a car without proof that you have insurance. Having the insurance in place ultimately hastened and eased the purchase of our car.
A local circular brings us weekly listings of cars for sale by their owners. This paper is given great attention in our area, and there are usually about 6-10 used cars listed for sale by their owners each week. We are among the fortunate residents to have access to this paper very early after it comes out. We continually looked to this circular as our best chance for finding the car we wanted. The down side is that you must respond quickly to these ads, for the best deals get bought up almost immediately; many times on that first day listed.
Work is tiring, but when I came home on that Tuesday (just after noon), this circular was waiting. I took a shower, prepared and ate my lunch, then relaxed while “taking in” this paper. The Lord had given me great peace (Philippians 4:6,7) regarding our car shopping; I believed that He would hold the right one for us, without anxiety or great striving on my part.
My wife had already been through the ads, but she was now at work. She had highlighted 2 cars that seemingly would suit us, but one was clearly better than the other; it was the older model Toyota that we had been hoping/praying for, and it was just $800! I do not know if, or how often I had actually mentioned a Honda or Toyota in my prayers—but I know that the Lord gives wisdom (Proverbs 2:6), and that His ears are open to our cries (Psalm 34:15). One of God’s promises regards giving us the desires of our hearts, whether or not we have made a specific request in prayer!
Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:4,5
Though all this was hopeful, I remained without worry (Isaiah 26:3). Still, it was time to take steps. I was sad that Jamie couldn’t be with me, but it was the circumstance we had to deal with. I called the telephone number listed, and got directions (someone else had already called, but couldn’t come until about 5 p.m., after their work day. It was about 1:30 p.m. when I called). I borrowed our neighbor’s car, and was on my way. The place I was going to was some 6 miles away; to go there, and to the bank for money, without a car, would not have worked.
When I arrived at the home and car, I immediately knew that it was what we had waited for. It is a 15 year old car, and has obviously been well taken care of. After a rather brief preliminary meeting, I said that we would purchase it (though Jamie was not physically present, this is how I think of it). The challenges, however, were not over!
We were set to shortly meet (within the hour) at the notary for the car purchase. My neighbor’s car, however, wouldn’t start! It was somewhat of a stressful event, but I think mostly embarrassing. The clock was ticking away for this car sale, and the owner was receiving numerous calls about it! My God, however, gave me grace in their sight; they took me to the bank for the money, and then we drove over to the notary office together to finalize the deal. And yes, the neighbor’s car still sat at the car seller’s home! Brethren, even this car “breakdown” reflected the Lord’s mercy. It had only broke down after it got me to the house/car! Without it being able to perform from the start, I couldn’t have gotten there in time for the purchase. So it got me where I needed to be, and at the right time—just enough, and no more; God often works that way in supplying our need! Ultimately, our neighbor’s car was found merely to have a faulty wire, and cost only $30 to repair. God is so good, all the time!
The adventures were still not over, and we did not get to “drive away into the sunset” with a happy ending. I have no delusions; cars need maintenance to run properly, and parts wear out. This is true for all cars, even the best of them. Scientist call it entropy; it is the second law of thermodynamics. We believers would say that it is because of sin, that all things will deteriorate and/or die.
The Toyota ran well all through the first couple trips, even after picking up Jamie at work. After we were together, however, it began stalling out when we approached stopping points. It would always start again, and as long as you could keep your foot on the accelerator, it would keep running. After our second day of ownership, it went into the repair shop! Our mechanic determined it to be a worn-out valve; something very common in his experience. He formerly worked for Toyota and is very knowledgeable about them. He was duly impressed with the car, and told us that we shouldn’t be discouraged by what was an age related problem (the car has about 240,000 miles on it!). In truth, Jamie and I had a deep inner peace all throughout. God had supplied the car, and at a low enough price that we could readily afford the repair, also. God is so good, and knows exactly how best to handle things. I am so glad!
It was 379 days that we went without a car; exactly one year and two weeks. This was far longer than we ever thought it would be, but the Lord accomplished His perfect will for us in regard to a car. Why did things take so long? What was our Lord trying to teach us? There were times that we truly hurt from the lack of a vehicle. Honestly, God has a way of teaching us many things by very limited circumstances. I don’t imagine that I’m even aware of all that He has done through this one. But please allow me to share with you what things I have seen up until this point.
A) First of all, there was finance. We had no other visible way to meet our needs, and the car sale provided very well.
B) In our personal relationships, 4 of them were brought into a better light. In 3 of them, it was easy to see that the individuals were only mouth-professing Christians. We are not to have fellowship with unbelief.
C) Perhaps we were reaping what we had sown. The car we gave up had been purchased on credit; a provision of men, whom we owed. It cost much more than we should have rightfully spent. God showed us that He is able to abundantly bless within limited means.
D) Stewardship. We know now to be sensitive to others who may be needy as we were, and share of the car blessing as we have received mercy.
E) The struggle we went through is solid preparation for the tough times that are shortly to come in this world. Things could have been far worse. It was a period of training for the great battle ahead.
F) We were rebuked for our covetousness. Every American is brought up to be materialistic; to wonder, “What’s in it for me?” Christians are not to behave this way, or be covetous. We are strangers in this world, and our reward is of the eternal, not temporal. Look at the following scriptures for support; read Luke 6:24,35, 12:15, II Corinthians 4:18, Philippians 3:7,8, and Colossians 3:5,6.
God knows every “thought” of our hearts. Inwardly, I believed that by giving up one car, that I would quickly receive something better! I did not obey out of a pure submission; I thought that something material would be granted me to profit from. Our reward is not here! We trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life; obeying Him also as God the creator, who is all-wise and knows what is best at all times, in any circumstances.
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:7-10
G) We need to trust in God’s ways, not our own. This is faith (Hebrews 11:1-3). God is not a liar, and will answer our prayers in His time, and in His way. God gave to us mercy all throughout those 379 days, and made the load bearable. God is God, and He will always know best! Please see our section on, The Conditions of Prevailing Prayer for more.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6
God gives us dozens of examples regarding His sovereignty and mercy throughout His Word. One that sharply stands out to me is revealed through the life of the prophet Jeremiah. As with most prophets, Jeremiah had a dirty job; to confront God’s people with their sin, and inform them of the consequences. The Lord encouraged Jeremiah to continue on in this difficult calling, seen here in Jeremiah 15:20,21;
And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible. Jeremiah 15:20,21
These are great promises. The Lord will save, and deliver, and redeem. He will make Jeremiah to be a “fenced brazen wall” to this people. As it turns out, the people did a lot of beating on that wall! God did not keep Jeremiah comfortable, or absolutely safe. But He did show him great mercy.
If you have read Jeremiah, you know that he was greatly persecuted (II Timothy 3:12). The book of Lamentations was written through Jeremiah, and reflects the inner turmoil of what he went through. Consider the following excerpts I have taken from there;
I AM the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day…He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer…He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate…He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity…It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentation 3:1-3…6,7,8…11…15-17…22-26
We Americans think that we should always be prosperous; loved and approved of by the majority of those round about us. Christ calls upon us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and then follow Him! The way of a true Christian is foolishness in the world’s eyes; we are a peculiar people unto the Lord.
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; I Peter 2:9
The book of Jeremiah provides us yet another example of the mercy which God promises. This time it regards Baruch, the man who took down many of the words which God spoke through Jeremiah. Baruch was also facing difficult times, and had hope of being rewarded for his faithful service; yet all God would promise him was to spare his life. Let’s look at Jeremiah 45, which is solely in regard to this subject.
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch: Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest. Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land. And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest. Jeremiah 45:1-5
Much more still could be said with regard to Godly chastening. In addition to the issue of merely submitting to God for who He is, comes the point of God’s need to refine us. We are chastened so that we will “grow” into holiness, while laying aside the filth of the flesh. Please review our section, Godly Chastening Revisited for more on this aspect.
God has given us powerful promises all throughout His Word. His promise to supply all our need is one of the most precious! God does not lie; His Word never fails. But we must remember that God’s ways are so high above ours, that we cannot fully comprehend them. We need to trust in Him, by faith, if we are to live lives pleasing to our creator (Hebrews 11:6). God’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save—but all glory will belong to Him alone.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD's hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. Numbers 11:23
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:11-13
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. I Corinthians 1:27-31
WARNING: To avoid Satan’s snares and deceptions, return to the pure Word of God; which is the King James Bible. Revised translations are not small word alterations meant to bring clarity! Major doctrinal changes have occurred, which will tend to bring doubt and destroy your faith. To follow these new “versions” of the truth, is to build your spiritual house upon sand, and become as the ones reflected in Matthew 7:21-23. Please use this entire passage, Matthew 7:21-27.
Satan means to deceive you into sincerely following his alternate “truth.” You are really being set up to fall, and serve the antichrist.
Pray and seek God diligently in this matter; for time is short. See also our Word of God section and the section on A Sure Salvation vs. Eternal Security.