God the Father...Provides
I’m going to dispel a popular myth about God. God is not Santa Claus. God is not going to give you, or me, or any of us whatever we ask for just because we ask for it. He loves us too much for that. Just like we, as parents don’t give our kids everything they want, neither does he. For example, my son wants a Ferrari. He’s not getting a Ferrari. We can’t afford it, nor would it be a good thing for him to have. He’s only fifteen. In no world is a Ferrari a good thing for a fifteen-year-old to own.
God the Father is like that. Yes, there are plenty of scriptures I could quote about him giving us whatever we ask for, but they have been taken out of context by some in recent years. I had a pastor when I was with the Assemblies of God that called that kind of erroneous teaching, “Name it, claim it and frame it.” Like God was some sort of Santa that gave us every material thing we could possibly want. He knew that wasn’t true. Experience teaches us that isn’t true. But there are some out there that try to make it true.
God the Father never promises to give us everything we want. He does, however, promise to supply our needs. Our problem is we get the two confused. Our needs are simple. We need food, shelter and clothing. That’s it. We don’t need multiple course meals, mansions or designer wear.
That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with those things in and of themselves, if the budget allows and we’re not obsessed with having them or obtaining them. We just don’t need them.
There are a few things God the Father will always give us, if we ask. If we want more patience, he will give it. If we want to love more, he will give that. If we need more wisdom, done. More faith, more hope, more of any spiritual gift, if we ask, he will give it. Just be careful. If you ask for patience, you will be put in situations that try your patience. More faith, your faith will be tested. More wisdom, you will find yourself doing things where you have to rely on His wisdom. And so on. In short, your life will be shaken and turned upside down. Which is stressful and fun all at the same time.
There is a condition to God’s provision, however. In Matthew 6: 31-34, Jesus lays out the condition. “So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”
The conditions are simple. Live for today. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray in the Lord’s Prayer, he didn’t reach them to say, “Give us for the next six months our daily bread. He taught them, “Give us this day our daily bread. “
Don’t worry. God knows what he’s doing. He’s like the CIA. He works on a need to know basis. If you don’t know what he’s doing in your life, it’s because you don’t need to know. He’s asking you to trust him.
Seek after God. Spend time with him. Get to know him beyond the Sunday morning Mass or church service. Rest in him. Be still. And know that he is God. And whatever happens, whether you have a lot or a little, you will be content.
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