What Can We Do When Our Needs Are Greater Than Our Resources?

We have needs, they are honest and legitimate but we do not have the money or resources to satisfy our needs. Where do we go, and what can we do? The Bible offers some advice.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19.

MY GOD
To say that God, in general, can meet all our needs would be stating the obvious since He is the Creator of All things but this verse speaks in terms of an emphatic "my God." Here is the idea of ownership and relationship. That because God is his God he is confident of having his needs supplied.

WILL
God is willing to meet our needs, he already met our greatest need- the need for a savior when he sent Jesus to take our sin and die in our stead so we may have salvation. If by giving Christ he has given us the greatest of heaven then the little needs of our lives are easily met.

MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS
God can grant our needs by filling them to overflowing, not just meeting them. God is not limited and can provide for all your needs, physical, emotional, financial, spiritual and whatever unique need we each have; none are exempt from his willingness or ability to provide for.

ACCORDING TO THE RICHES
The whole earth is full of God's riches, so to meet our need will not bankrupt him. God can be generous because his riches are not diminished, and his nature is to be generous. He has already given his greatest treasure in giving Christ for us, after that why would he hold anything back?

OF HIS GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS
It is in Christ that we may be confident that all our needs will be met. When God provides for us who have come to him it brings him glory through our thanksgiving, our praises, and the motivation for us to live lives that express gratitude.

If we look to have our needs met by our own efforts we will fail but if we look to God in faith to let him meet our needs we will find God will bless us.

To learn more about the riches of salvation see my other blog.

12/22/14

What Is The Secret To Being Content?

Does being content come from having everything you need and want, or is it something else?

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want, I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13.

TO BE IN NEED
The Apostle Paul knew what it was to be in need. He was in prisons, he was often without food and shelter he was treated as an outcast, and homeless; but he refused self-pity and in everything he learned to be content.

He also experienced having it all, and both situations required him to learn contentment.

I HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET
Christian maturity offers more than the convert thinks. We must keep on learning and discovering, and get past the milk of the Word to feast on the meat.

CONTENT
To be content is to be satisfied with what you have. It says what you have is enough, and refuses to look for more. This attitude requires a focus on deeper, bigger, and more important things.

IN ANY AND EVERY SITUATION
Paul saw no difference between unmet need and blessing. Because his focus was on God not the circumstances, therefore every circumstance is sacred.

PROSPERITY
If we are blessed with material goods the same attitude applies- we look to God as the giver of the gift. Prosperity may offer more temptations than poverty, like the temptation to indulge or take pride in the blessings. We need humility in poverty and prosperity.

THROUGH HIM
Whether in poverty or prosperity Paul was content through Christ. Not through a philosophy, a discipline, or good fortune but by a relationship with Christ.

Paul's joy was not in the things of this world but in the Lord. To focus on the Lord lifted him above all the shortcomings of this world.  In Christ he was independent from the needs of the world.

Those who are content look at God and their needs are met in Him. By faith they say, "I have an unmet need but God is good, wise, and beneficent so if He chooses to not meet this need it is not necessary or not for my good. He has a purpose in this situation I accept it and will be thankful. I will know him better through this."

To learn more about knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior follow this link.