Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Recognizing God’s Daily Provisions 

There appears to be a stark variance in the definition of needs and wants in our lives. 

Reflecting back on my life there were clear moments when the insidious desire for more drove many of the decisions that I made. Before diving down a deep rabbit trail of where we get sideways it is prudent to take time to see what Scripture reveals about the true needs we have in life. 

In this scripture, Jesus is teaching us to trust in God’s provision. In its purest form He is reminding us to focus on what God provides each day, most often without us even thinking twice. For instance, the fact that you are able to read these thoughts, on an electronic device most likely, puts you in the top echelon of people in the world. Don’t believe me – if you, or your parents for the younger audience, earn more than $55,000 annually you are in the top 3% of the top wage earners worldwide. 

Think about that for a second, out of the over 8 billion people on the planet, if you earn $55K suddenly you have more money than 7.6 billion others. Yet we see the constant reminder daily of those earning this amount and often much more that are struggling financially, which leads to the natural question of why? It appears that what is happening all around us is the absolute resolve that happiness in life resides with what we want versus what God chooses to bless us with daily. 

Simple provisions such as the sun rising, air in our lungs, food in the fridge, clothes in the closet, transportation easily accessible and much more have all been taken for granted and yet when the least little disturbance in these provisions occurs how quickly we remember His great hand. The best reminder of this is when power is lost due to a storm. When all of a sudden the air conditioning, lights, freezers and worst of all WiFi are gone we quickly remember how good His provision truly is. Jesus is teaching us here around a novel concept of being where our feet are in each moment of life. True joy, it appears, comes to fruition the moment we recognize that the most basic needs in life are the ones that God provides without us thinking twice. 

So much of the anxiety, depression and poor stewardship can be traced back to individual decisions where wants outpaced needs and His provision was swept under the rug. As we dig further a great item to ponder are the incredible ways that God has blessed you with and are those taken for granted or do we offer the praise that He deserves. 

Finally, regarding God’s provision each day, consider this idea. If tomorrow when we woke up we only received what we thanked God for the previous day what would you get? Would you get air in your lungs, food in your stomach, financial provision in the bank, health in your body, children around the dinner table or would you find the day surrounded by self-centered desires that leave us feeling empty? Remember, trust and praise Him each day for all the simple provisions in life and remember that He loves you so much that there will never be a day that He doesn’t show up and pour out HIs blessings upon you. 

Questions to Consider: 

1. Can you recall a moment when a disruption in your daily provisions made you appreciate God’s blessings more? 
2. If you woke up tomorrow with only what you thanked God for today, what would you have? 

Scripture: James 4:1-3

The Danger of Chasing Wants 

Chasing wants can manifest itself in all areas of life and here is an actual account of an instance that you may not have seen coming. 

Over the last year there was a need for someone to step in and lead the children’s teaching at the church where we serve. The previous pastor, who was bi-vocational, was let go and one of the main reasons for his termination was that a full-time leader was a want that surfaced and thus caused many quarrels. 

Understanding the situation was a bit contentious at best. I decided to lean into the gift of teaching that the Lord put in my life. I volunteered to take over the teaching and we were off to the races. During this time, there was an agreement that I would fulfill the teaching while a replacement was sourced. Little did I know that conducting the teaching each week was something that God would bless me with greatly. I fell in love with the children, the weekly teaching and the ministry continued to flourish. As a result of those things, and thanks to the great foundation from the previous pastor, a new fire for the Lord was beginning to flame up with the children. 

A candidate surfaced roughly one year later and a flood of emotions surfaced as I dealt with the reality that this season of life may be coming to an end. I decided to put my name in the hat for the leader, understanding that I could only fulfill the role in a part-time manner. The mistake I made was assuming that the decision makers would be listening to God and recognize the needs of the program were being fulfilled in a mighty way all along. 

During the formal interview, it became abundantly clear that what they wanted would far outweigh anything that God was currently providing. The needs were being filled, yet their wants were driving their decisions. No matter how much data was shared or meaningful insights provided regarding the blossoming success of the program, they were blinded by the appearance of their desires. This was a sobering moment as it was one of the clearest times in my life where man’s greed surpassing God’s provision came to fruition. The want was overpowering the amazing way that God was providing blessings week in and week out. 

I share that story as a reminder that chasing wants often leads us off of what God desires for our lives. While this story happens within the church walls, there are many more areas of life that this manifests. Pursuing wants over needs has dangerous implications. Perhaps that is why James cautioned the readers regarding this to great lengths. Our motives, when not pure, have a way of manifesting itself as wants with deep ties to one of the three tools from the evil one. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life are the ways Satan can trip us up along our journey. 

While pride was the primary driver in this story, it is important to know what creeps to the surface the most with you personally. If you find yourself craving what others have, it may be lust of the eyes growing stronger. Either way, the first step of defense appears to be slowing down and asking God for wisdom and discernment. Ask Him if the things you are bringing to Him are unmitigated wants or unquestionable needs. He will provide the answer, the question is will you listen? 

Questions to Consider: 

1. Can you identify a time when pursuing a want caused more harm than good? 
2. How do you respond when God’s provision differs from your expectations? 

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13

Contentment in God’s Provision 

Outside of peace of mind, contentment is the rarest commodity on the planet. 

Our society is the most advanced, connected, wealthy, and educated of all time, and yet anxiety, depression and stress are through the roof for the majority of the population. It begs to have the question answered of why, and I submit that the root of many of these issues stem from a genuine lack of contentment.

Years ago, I was a truck junkie. I craved new vehicles, and I would do whatever it took to have the latest and greatest in my driveway at all times. Stewardship was a foreign concept, and the only question I ever had was how much the payment was. From there, it truly didn’t matter if negative equity would be rolled into new loans as long as the vehicle I wanted came home with me.

From big tires, to exhaust, to sun roofs, oh how contentment alluded me. Each time I left the dealership with that brand new car smell, I felt a hit of dopamine that could not be explained. I would think to myself, “Now I am happy.” The funniest and saddest example of this was just before I got married, and I was talking to my then fiancé on the phone while getting a new vehicle serviced. I told her I just saw a new Jeep that looked great, and I was going to take it for a test drive. Now remember, I was at the dealership to get my new vehicle serviced and had this majestic idea.

The next thing I knew, I was in a finance office signing the paperwork for the Jeep and down the road I went. What I thought was contentment was always in the next vehicle, and for that reason, I never truly enjoyed or appreciated any of the ones I owned. 

It wasn’t until some financial hardships occurred that the concept of stewardship was introduced and some radical repentance had to occur. I learned that happiness could not be found in a vehicle and that the joy I was searching for was closely coupled to contentment. We decided to take a completely new position regarding vehicles and now drive older models, and yet, I have never felt this level of contentment as I know that God will provide what is needed for our family at all times. 

Even now, we are prayerfully asking God what He desires for a vehicle as our family has grown and the needs have changed. Thankfully, we trust in His provision and will lean on Him to guide us through the decision-making process. 

It appears that contentment occurs when we recognize that our happiness is not found in our happenings. Circumstances change, life happens, and when we try to tie our emotional well-being to anything other than Christ, we will come up empty-handed. Instead, focusing on joy brings something so much better, and that contentment will fill you with the peace that passes all understanding and that is worth getting excited about. 

As we finish up, I encourage you to do a self-assessment. Think about the moments in life that bring you joy and trace it back to the source of the provision. If done honestly, this exercise will have God batting 100% as it should be. He loves you, He wants the best for you, He wants you to have nice things, He just doesn’t want the nice things to have you. 

Discipleship is learning to discern between wants and needs and having the strength to take the right path. You can do this, and as you grow in Christ each day, keep seeking His guidance, listening to His voice, and taking the steps of obedience that He is calling you to. Remember, He will always provide your needs and that you can be assured of. 

Questions to Consider: 

1. How do you define contentment in your own life? 
2. Can you recall a time when you chased after material possessions rather than finding contentment in Christ?