A. He has promised to supply our needs:
Phi.4:19 - God shall supply all your need according to His riches
Mat.6:33 - Seek ye first the Kingdom of God...& all these things shall be added unto you
Psa.23:1 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (lack)
Psa.34:10 - They that seek Lord shall not (lack) any good thing
Psa.37:25 - I (have) not seen righteous forsaken...begging bread
Mat.7:7-11 - Every one that asketh receiveth...your Father (shall) give good things to them that ask Him
Rom.8:32 - He that spared not His Own Son...shall He not also freely give us all things?
(See also Deut.2:7; Psa.68:19; 81:10; Mal.3:10; Mat. 6:8,25-34.)
B. God is the source of all supply:
Psa.145:15,16 - Thou openest Thine hand, & satisfiest the desire of every living thing
1Chr.29:14 - All things come of Thee, & of Thine Own have we given Thee
Psa.104:13-15 - He causeth...herb (to grow) for man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth
Jam.1:17 - Every good gift...is from above, & cometh from (God)
(See also Psa.65:9-13; Gen.1:29; 9:3.)
C. He owns the entire world:
Exo.19:5 - All the earth is Mine
Psa.24:1 - The earth is the Lord's, & the fulness thereof
Psa.50:10,11 - Every beast is Mine...& the cattle upon a thousand hills
Psa.89:11 - The earth is Thine: the world & the fulness thereof
Num.11:21-23 - [God promised meat for a month, Moses doubted it, so] the Lord said, `Is the Lord's hand waxed short?'
2Ki.4:1-6 - [The prophet's widow borrowed vessels & they miraculously filled with enough oil to pay her debts]
A. Food:
Exo.16:12-15 - [God miraculously supplied quail & manna in desert]
Num.11:18-20 - [God sent a month's supply of quail] (See vs.31,32)
Psa.78:23-29 - He opened the doors of Heaven, & rained down manna...corn of Heaven...angel's food...meat to the full (See also Psa.105:40)
Psa.132:15 - I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread
1Ki.17:4 - I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there
1Ki.17:16 - The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail [during the 3-1/2 year famine]
1Ki.19:5-8 - An angel said unto (Elijah), "Arise & eat"...& behold, a cake baken on the coals, & a cruse of water
2Ki.4:42,43 - [Elisha fed 100, multiplying 20 loaves & some corn]
Mk.6:34-44 - [Jesus fed 5,000, multiplying 5 loaves & 2 fishes. 5,000 men, besides women & children Mat.14:21]
Mk.8:1-9 - [Jesus fed 4,000, multiplying 7 loaves]
Rev.12:6,14 - [Church "fed, nourished" 3-1/2 years in wilderness]
(See also Psa.23:5; Lk.5:4-7; Jn.21:5,6,11.)
B. Water:
Gen.21:14-19 - [Hagar dying of thirst, God showed her a well]
Exo.17:1-6 - [At Horeb, the Lord brought water out of a rock]
Num.20:2,7-11 - [At Meribah, God again brought water from a rock]
Judg.15:15-19 - [God supplied water from a jawbone for Samson]
2Ki.3:9,17,20 - [God miraculously supplied water for an army]
(See also Psa.78:15,16; 105:41; Isa.41:17,18.)
C. God can even purify impure food & water:
Exo.15:23-25 - [Bitter waters of Marah miraculously made sweet]
2Ki.2:19-22 - [Undrinkable waters of Jericho healed]
2Ki.4:38-41 - [Poisonous gourd in the pottage rendered harmless]
(See also Mk.16:18a)
D. Clothing & other necessities:
Deut.29:5 - I have led you 40 years...your clothes are not waxen old...thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot
Mat.6:25,26, 30 - If God clothe the grass...shall He not...clothe you?
(See also Gen.3:21)
A. Sore famines predicted in the last days:
Mat.24:3,7 - [In] the end of the world...there shall be famines...in diverse places
Mk.13:8b - There shall be famines & troubles
B. The Lord promises to feed us during famines:
Job 5:19,20 - In famine He (God) shall redeem thee from death
Psa.33:18,19 - The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him...to keep them alive in famine
Psa.37:18,19 - The Lord knoweth the days of the upright...in the days of famine they shall be satisfied
Pro.10:3 - The Lord will not suffer (allow)...the righteous to famish
Ezk.36:29b,30 - I will increase (the corn), & lay no famine upon you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree, &...of the field
C. He usually warns His people so they can make preparations:
Gen.41:25-36, 47-49 - [God showed Joseph & Pharaoh that a famine was coming & they prepared for it by storing away food
Acts 11:27-30 - [God warned that a dearth was coming, & believers sent relief money to their affected brethren]
(See also Amos 3:7)
A. We must please God & be obedient:
Mat.6:33 - Seek first...& all things shall be added unto you
2Chr.1:7-12 - [God gave King Solomon fabulous riches & wealth when he sought the good of the kingdom first]
Psa.34:9 - There is no want (lack) to them that fear Him
Psa.34:10 - They that seek Lord shall not (lack) any good thing
Psa.37:3 - Do good...& verily thou shalt be fed
Psa.37:18,19 - The Lord knoweth...the upright...in the days of famine they shall be satisfied
Psa.37:25 - I have been young, & now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken...begging bread
Psa.84:11 - No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly
Pro.13:25 - Righteous eateth to satisfying... wicked shall (lack)
Isa.1:19 - If ye be willing & obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land
1Jn.3:22 - Whatsoever we ask, we receive...because we keep His commandments, & do...things...pleasing in His sight
(See also Deut.11:10-15; 29:9; Psa.111:5.)
B. Examples of obeying & doing our part first:
1Ki.17:2-5 - Get thee hence...& hide by the brook Cherith...ravens feed thee there. So he went
1Ki.17:9,10 - Arise, get thee to Zarephath. So he arose & went
2Ki.4:1-6 - Go borrow...of all thy neighbours empty vessels, borrow not a few. So she went & (did)
Mat.17:27 - Go cast an hook, & take up the fish...thou shalt find a piece of money (in his mouth)
Lk.5:4-6 - Launch out into the deep, & let down your nets
Jn.2:1-10 - Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them
Jn.11:39 - Take (roll) ye away the stone
Jn.21:5,6 - Cast the net on right side of the ship...They cast
C. Pray, believe God's Word & depend on Him to supply:
Mat.7:7 - Ask, & it shall be given; knock, & it shall be opened
Mat.21:22 - All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
Heb.11:6 - He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him
(See also 2Chr.26:5; Isa.45:11; Mat.9:29.)
D. Remember to thank Him for supplying:
Psa.68:19 - Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loadeth us with benefits
Psa.116:12-14,17,18 - What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits? I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving
A. Because of sin or disobedience:
Jer.5:25 - Your sins have withholden good things from you
(See also Psa.81:15,16; Jam.4:3.)
B. Lack of faith or failure to ask the Lord:
Jam.4:2 - Ye have not, because ye ask not
Jam.1:6,7 - [Wavering & not asking in faith]
C. Laziness:
2Thes.3:10 - If any would not work, neither should he eat
Pro.13:4 - The soul of the sluggard desireth, & hath nothing
Pro.20:4 - Sluggard will not plow...therefore shall have nothing
Pro.21:25 - The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour (See also Pro.23:21)
D. To keep us dependent upon God & His supply:
Deut.31:20 - When they...have eaten & filled themselves, & waxen fat; then will they turn to other gods
Pro.30:8,9 - Give me (not) riches...lest I be full & deny Thee
(See also 1Tim.6:10,17; Rev.3:17-19.)
E. To show us that it's time to move:
1Ki.17:7-9 - [When the brook dried, it was time for Elijah to move]
(See also Gen.26:1-3; 45:6-11; Ruth 1:1-6,16-18; 2Ki.8:1,2.)
A. He knows what you need & is looking after you:
Mat.6:8 - Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him
Mat.6:25,31, 32 - Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or drink...(God) knoweth that ye need all these things
B. If God provides for the unbelieving World...
(See Mat.5:45; Acts 14:15b-17.)
C. If He even provides the needs of animals...
(See Gen.1:30; 6:14-22; Psa.104:21,26-28; 147:8,9.)
D....Won't He much more care for you?
(See Mat.6:26,30; Psa.34:10; 145:15,16; 2Cor.9:8.)
A. Our responsibility to provide:
1Tim.5:8 - If any provide not for...those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, & is worse than an infidel
B. Working for our needs:
Acts 20:35 - How that labouring ye ought to support the weak
Eph.4:28 - Let him labour, working w/ his hands thing which is good
1Thes.4:11,12 - Work with your own hands...that ye may lack nothing
2Thes.3:10-12 - Some work not at all...If any would not work, neither should he eat
Tit.3:14 - Let ours learn to maintain good works (profess honest trades) for necessary uses
(See also Gen.41:39-44; Dan.2:48,49; 6:1-3; 8:27.)
C. Missionaries occasionally take on secular jobs:
Acts 18:1-3 - [Paul temporarily made tents to support himself] (See also Acts 20:34; 1Cor.4:12.)
D. God blesses diligent, hard work:
Gen.31:38-40 - [Jacob's sample of diligent shepherding]
Gen.39:1-6 - [God blessed Joseph's hard work] (See also vs. 20-23)
Pro.10:4 - The hand of the diligent maketh rich (See also Pro.13:4; 22:29; 21:25; Eccl.5:18.)
Pro.28:19 - He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth vain persons...poverty
Mat.25:14-30 - [The reward of the diligent servants who increased their talents]
A. Well-off supporters often helped God's messengers:
Gen.47:1-6 - [Pharaoh gave the best land in Egypt, Goshen, to Joseph's father & brothers]
1Ki.18:3,13 - [Governor Obadiah risked his life to save & feed 100 of the Lord's prophets]
2Ki.4:8-11 - [Rich woman of Shunem supplied food & lodging for Elisha & his servant]
Neh.2:7,8 - [King Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah permission to take as much timber as he needed from the king's forest]
Jer.37:15-21 - [King Zedekiah defied Jeremiah's enemies & commanded Jeremiah be given bread continually]
Dan.2:48,49 - [King Nebuchadnezzar gives Daniel power & "many great gifts", & gave his friends high positions]
Lk.8:1-3 - [Joanna & other wealthy women helped support Jesus]
(See also Rom.16:23; Phlm.1,2,7,22.)
B. Don't abuse others' generosity:
1Cor.7:31 - They that use this world, as not abusing it
C. God's workers to be supported by those to whom they minister:
Mat.10:9,10 - Provide neither gold, nor silver in your purses...for the workman is worthy of his meat
1Cor.9:7-14 - The Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel
2Ki.4:42 - A man...brought (Elisha) bread of the firstfruits, 20 loaves & corn [to feed his 100 disciples]
Lk.22:35 - When I sent you without purse...lacked ye any thing? And they said, "Nothing."
1Tim.5:18 - Shalt not muzzle ox that treadeth the corn. The labourer is worthy of his hire (See Deut.25:4; Lk.10:7.)
(See also Acts 28:7-10)
D. Staying as a guest at someone's house:
Mat.10:11 - In whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who is worthy; & there abide
Lk.10:7,8 - In the same house remain, eating (what) they give
(See also 1Ki.17:8-16,24; Acts 10:5,6; 16:14,15; 17:5,7; 18:2,3,7; Rom.16:23a; Phlm.22.)
E. But don't overstay your welcome:
Pro.25:17 - Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee; & so hate thee
F. Accepting invitations to a meal:
Mat.9:9,10 - [Jesus & disciples ate with Matthew] (See also Lk.5:29)
Lk.7:36 - One of the Pharisees desired that He would eat with him
Lk.19:1-6 - [Jesus invited Himself to eat at Zacchaeus' house]
1Cor.10:27 - If any (unbelievers) bid you to a feast, & ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat
G. Refusing invitations to a meal:
1Ki.13:7-9,15-17 - [Young prophet ordered by God to refuse invitations] (See also vs. 18-24)
Pro.15:17 - Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than (steak) & hatred therewith (See also Dan.1:5,8,12-16)
Pro.23:6-8 - Eat not the bread of him that hath an evil eye
H. Share amongst yourselves what God has already given you:
Acts 2:44,45 - (They) parted them to all men, as every man had need
Acts 4:32 - They had all things common
Acts 4:34,35 - Distribution was made unto every man...as he had need
Acts 11:29 - Every man according to his ability...(sent) relief
2Cor.8:12-14 - That...your abundance may be a supply for their want (lack)...that there may be equality
2Cor.8:15 - He that gathered much had nothing over; & he that gathered little had no lack (See Exo.16:18)
A. God can even use unbelievers to give to His people:
Job 27:16,17 - Though he heap up silver...innocent shall divide (it)...prepare raiment...but the just shall put it on
Psa.2:8 - Ask...I shall give the heathen for thine inheritance
Pro.21:1 - King's heart is in hand of the Lord...He turneth it
Psa.105:44 - (He) gave them lands of the heathen: & they inherited the labour of the people (heathen)
Pro.13:22 - The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just
Eccl.2:26 - To the sinner He giveth travail, to gather & to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God
Isa.23:18 - Her merchandise shall be...for [servants of] the Lord, to eat sufficiently, & for durable clothing
B. Examples of the need to ask:
1Sam.25:2-8 - [David sent men to ask Nabal, a great & rich but wicked man, to donate food to him & his men]
1Sam.25:7,8 - [David explained the good work his men have done]
1Sam.27:5-7 - [David asked for place to stay for 16 months]
Mk.11:1-7 - [Jesus' disciples requested a donkey for Him to ride]
Mk.14:12-16 - [Jesus' disciples asked for the use of an upper room, already furnished & prepared]
Lk.5:1-3 - [Jesus asked for the use of a boat to preach from]
Jn.4:6,7 - [Jesus asked for a drink of water]
A. Financially:
Deut.28:1-13 - [Mighty promises of prosperity to the faithful]
Psa.112:1,3 - Blessed is the man...that delighteth greatly in His commandments...wealth shall be in his house
Pro.10:22 - Blessing of the Lord maketh rich, He addeth no sorrow
B. Other ways God prospers His people:
(See Gen.39:2; Lev.26:3-13; Deut.29:9; 30:9; 2Chr.26:5; Psa.107:35-38; 127:3-5; Isa.3:10; Ezk.34:26; Acts 14:17.)
A. Be content & do not desire more than you need:
Lk.12:15 - Beware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in abundance of things which he possesseth
1Tim.6:6-8 - Godliness with contentment is great gain...having food & raiment let us be therewith content
Phi.4:11 - I have learned, in whatever state I am...to be content
Heb.13:5 - Let your (life) be without covetousness; & be content with such things as ye have
Psa.37:16 - A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked
Pro.15:16 - Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure & trouble therewith
Pro.30:8 - Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me
2Cor.6:10 - As poor...having nothing, & yet possessing all things
(See also Psa.62:10b; Psa.119:36; Pro.17:1; 23:5.)
B. Dangers of discontent & murmuring:
Exo.16:3 - [Longing for fleshpots of Egypt, & complaining that God will let them die of hunger]
Num.21:5,6 - [The people complained against & loathe the manna & were attacked by fiery serpents]
1Sam.15:3,9, 22,23 [Saul disobeyed God's orders to utterly destroy, saving the best of the goods. God rejected Saul as king]
Psa.73:3-20 - [Warning not to envy the prosperity of worldly wicked]
Psa.78:15-21 - [Israelites miraculously received water, then doubtingly murmured for meat. God angrily judged them]Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family International