The Needy and Birds - What do we need & what are we to do and not do
Q: We need to make sure no one goes hungry. Christians dont seem to care about this. People die of starvation. Jesus fed people.
A: There is so much false in that insinuation.
The main thing I will point out is: Food is useless for tomorrow...if we die in our sins today.
Let's look at the verses before. The one before talks about serving two masters. What does it mean to serve? Give yourself wholly to, to pursue with everything, to put at a HiGH value. Which should we be serving, God or cares of this world? God wants us to pursue Him, to value Him, to trust Him.
Now let's look at birds. Do they just sit and wait for the things they need to come to them in their nests? No, they fly out, they search, they pick it up, (theyre constantly in action). Scripture says that God is a provider for those who put Him first, those who Serve Him, who seek Him, who ask Him. Not all serve Jesus. [And not all who are believers, do so with their whole heart].
Proverbs 6:6
Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise.
I experienced poverty and never doubted God and never lost hope. There were times we did not have enough no matter what, in fact 2 months we lived on boullion water and a tiny homemade cracker for a meal. But we survived. Times where we are relying on Him brings us closer to him, & there are times where following Him cost us. Those were the times God provided through others. I TAKE God at His word when He says ask and you shall receive. He has never failed me yet.
Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Seek first the kingdom. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you". Matt 6:33
The principle is right.
Are you living rightly day by day and for the Lord? Is your life focus on him or yourself?
Philippians 4:12
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
Paul told us he himself as an Apostle went through hard times: "I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm." 2 Cor 11
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. Proverbs 16:8
Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Proverbs 15:16
Matthew 17:20
And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you
Luke 26:10
Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much
2 Corinthians 8:15
as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7
God takes care of his children, and yet every one else recieves some form of undeserved common grace.
It is also because of Christians that food hunger organizations even exist. Anything from church pantry to govt funding for the poor. Without Christ nowhere in the world would there be love towards one another. It begins only with those who love God and therefore love fellow humans.
Q: claiming that people who are facing extreme conditions like starvation or homelessness aren't following Jesus enough is honestly disgusting and horrifying and is a reason MANY people leave Christianity. I struggled with my son's health for years and was told I wasn't praying enough. I very nearly walked away from God completely because I prayed and believed and my son STILL had major issues.
Lack of faith was NOT why I was going through hardship. God never promises us everything will be ok if we believe. He promises we will be made whole in heaven if we believe. He doesn't say we get what we ask for.......sometimes we can ask and his answer is no. Prosperity gospel is NOT Godly or Biblical. It is gross and dangerous.
A: It’s not wrong to struggle with verses and understanding Scripture. There are so many things that are hard to understand. When we study it we learn more about God and grow in our faith. Hard times bring us to our knees before God and to the Word, and we get and stay closer to Him through it all.
We go back to the character of God. He is always and completely good. He is always and completely loving. I can trust that even when I can’t understand everything. Sin and Satan have marred much in our world but God remains who he is. Ask him to help you understand. Ask him to help you trust him.
In this case you mentioned, it isnt about not following him enough. It is about contentment and trusting that God is working in and through our lives for a good purpose, and submitting to His Will. We cannot live in bitterness and ungratitude and discontentment. He works out all things for good. Even parents of born disabled people say God used it to help them grow in faith, get closer to God, come to faith, and lead others to faith. God uses the things and problems due to sinful mankinds decisions to bring about good. From the fall to the Savior and in ever situation. We can see this across Scripture and in the lives of believers since.
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Scripture tells us that there are varied reasons why certain things happen and what God is accomplishing by it.
To glorify God
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)
His loving discipline puts us back on godly path or takes us out for disobedience (for he has no more use for a rebellious one here).
1 Cor. 11:30
That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
James 5:14-16
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working
Psalm 103:2-4
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
Romans 5:3-4
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope
Hosea 6:1
“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
In the end all He does for us and in this world is for the good of those who are His.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
We rest in God's sovereignty knowing
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8
2 Corinthians 4:17
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
We look forward to entering glory and being with the Lord.
I also. None of us know the day we will die and enter eternity. I am living with incurable cancer and still love and trust God. He gives me grace to go through every day. And whatever day he brings me home I will be glad to finally enter that sin free place eternally.
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you
Romans 14:8
If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord
2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control
Too many people are only focused on themselves and not keeping their eyes on what matters most.
Christ was innocent and yet endured much in his life and death for you and me. We have nothing to complain about in light of that. It was unjust for him to go through all of that but because God loved us that he willingly did it to redeem us.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Let us keep our eyes and hearts on God and be content with our lot in life. And thank him for our salvation.
For those who are not saved, God provides common grace (yes even to his enemies), but he gives special care and favor to every one of his actual children [the redeemed in Christ]. Even these unsaved ones get the scraps of blessing for being around believers - government helps to the poor in Christianized countries.
But in the end it is useless if someone dies today in their sins.
Let us thank God that...
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Rom. 5:10
And...call sinners to salvation. Call them to obey the Gospel and through Christ become children of God.
Jesus said, Repent and believe the gospel. Mark 1:15
Understand the Greater and Lesser principle
Related Resources
Obey the Gospel
Giving thanks for Deliverance
https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/80-218/giving-thanks-for-gods-deliverance
How God uses Suffering
https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/47-83/how-god-uses-suffering-part-1
https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/47-84/how-god-uses-suffering-part-2
Gods purpose in our pain
https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/80-313/gods-purpose-in-our-pain
Is God primarily concerned with my earthly gain
https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B151007/~
Gods presence in our hardship
https://www.gty.org/store/bible-studies/452232/gods-presence-during-hardship-daniel-and-esther-in-exile-
Divine Providence: the supreme comfort of a sovereign God
https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/GTY183/divine-providence-the-supreme-comfort-of-a-sovereign-god
Willing to suffer for Gods glory
https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B150702/~
If you are in need of food:
Immediate need
Contact your church
If not a Christian, become one, or seek out lical food pantry or govt assistance
Need soon
Ask around where you can get a job, even a short term one till you find perm one.
Ask around to baby sit kids or pet care help
You can get free food and money at these places also
16 free meals here (Hello Fresh) & free breakfast for life. Plus if a Veteran, or Medical Providers, Nurses, Hospital Employees, and Military & Veterans you get 15% off the 1st yr.
See below for low cost meals delivered from diy cook or premade
Or 18 free meals here (Ralphs home-chef plan)
Get 24 weeks of free meals on Medi Cal
And some temp agencies have job ideas like call center work or an assistant. Call them to get advice and direction.
Look at what you own that you can sell. Purses, jewelery, bags, varied items, things you havent used in a year, etc.
Look at free swap places online for free stuff and resell it on ebay.
Look for free stuff on craigslist and resell on craigs list or ebay
If you have art supplies- make some stuff and sell on craigs list, ebay, and sale groups on facebook.
Also if you waste money on nails or hair, stop doing that. That adds up and is total waste. Go natural.
If you drink or smoke stop doing that. Colossial waste of money.
Here are more suggestions
50 ways to make extra money this month
Comments
Post a Comment