God Wants to Provide for the Needs of Christians
Regardless of the Problem, Believers Trust God to Care for Them
Apr 26, 2009
The Bible tells believers to prayerfully ask for what they need and then wait expectantly for answers, trusting and believing that the God who loves them will also take care of them. (Psalm 27:10, 1 Peter 5:7)
A Biblical Example of Trusting the Wrong Things
When the armies of Damascus and Israel threatened Jerusalem, Judah’s King Ahaz sought protection from an alliance with the invading Assyrians rather than trusting God for their safety. The cost was steep and Jerusalem paid tribute to the Assyrian king for many years.
During King Ahaz’s entire reign, the Assyrian army did not attack any Judean cities, an accomplishment which garnered praise for the King but Isaiah was not impressed. He told the people that God’s judgment was coming. Ahaz was deemed an evil king because he brought idol worship back to Judah. Turning to idols and relying upon the strength of the Assyrian army for protection disrespected God. This story is found in Isaiah 7.
In the twenty-first century, most people living in developed countries no longer need to rely on God for protection from invading armies or even the most basic necessities of life: food, clean water, shelter. Nevertheless, everyone has troubles, difficult times when life seems to be impossible.
Just Do It, Yourself
Two-hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin successfully pushed the concept of a self-made man to the forefront of the collective American mind. Over the years, many of his sayings, such as, “God helps them who help themselves,” found not in the Bible as many believed, but in Poor Richard’s Almanack, became national beliefs.
Many of the values that Franklin espoused – often stated in vivid, pithy mottoes – made sense to people and eventually became known as truth to many generations of Americans. The Puritan morality, including a strong work ethic, thriftiness and an emphasis on education, became rooted in the hearts of the people who were creating a new country, the United States of America.
This spirit can be condensed into the words of an old proverb, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Such ideas often lead people to try and tough it out when they go through difficulties. Yet these beliefs and values run counter to the teachings of Bible writings and the principles taught by Jesus.
Success is often measured by what a person achieves, so being still and waiting for God to provide solutions to problems seems to be counter-productive to getting something done. Yet the Bible teaches, “Cursed is the strong one who depends on mere humans, who thinks he can make it on muscle alone and sets God aside as dead weight.” (Jeremiah 17:5, The Message)
“If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.” (Proverbs 28:26, The Message)
If independence, education, a strong work ethic and positive thinking aren’t enough, there are many other problem-solving options for the modern man or woman. In the post-modern era, Christians don’t ally themselves with other countries, or seek help from idol worship. However, many people rely on things like medicine, money, science, or government rather than trusting God to provide what they need. To read more about this topic, see Christians Can Trust God For All That’s Needed.
To read about other things Isaiah, the Biblical prophet wrote, see The Prophet Isaiah, God's Faithful Spokesman, and Isaiah Tells Christians How to Face Tough Times.
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