THANKFUL SUNDAY
God Supplies
1 Timothy 6:8-10
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The above scripture is not saying that we should not be rich. It is stating that we should not put riches before God. If our entire life is focused on accumulating riches and not focused on God, it is sure to cause us to do things that are displeasing to God. Conversely, if we put God first, He, Himself will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
We read throughout scriptures where God made people rich. Abraham, Solomon, Job, when he was compensated for his loss, was made rich again. One common thread we find in these men is that they put God first. In those days riches were not measured by money in the bank, they were measured by cattle, sheep, goats, etc. In Solomon’s case, people brought riches to him. The Queen of Sheba brought him, camels, spices, gold, and precious stones. The scripture says that she did this because she had heard of his fame and his relationship to the Lord (1 Kings:10).
One of the keys to receiving is to give. Sowing seeds will produce a harvest. Give to ministries that are preaching the gospel and winning souls to the Lord. God has promised to pour out such a blessing upon us in return, that there will not be room enough to receive it. It is not wrong to tithe, but I think a more excellent way is to give all that we have to God’s direction. He may lead you to give more than a tithe. One of the things God is able to do is to make what remains after you have given, multiply. Think of the five loaves and two small fish that were multiplied to feed so many. You will find that whatever you have left over will be able to go much further than it normally would.
God wants us to pray for what we need. Sometimes we “have not because we ask not” (James 4:2). We are also told to ask, and we shall receive, Matthew 7: 7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
We have a loving heavenly Father, who wants the best for His children. He wants us to prosper spiritually and materially. If we are struggling to make ends meet, it causes us to focus on money more than we should. When we cannot pay our bills, we think about those bills constantly. It can cause a great deal of stress in our lives. This is not the way God wants us to live. Jesus came that we may have an abundant life. A life free of stress and abounding in God’s blessings.