RE Verse reading–Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 116:1-9, Matthew 6:25-33 (day six) “Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow. . . nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (6:26) Out of our kitchen window, I have a bird feeder. It is a new hobby with one early observation. Feeding birds involves benevolence from me and near constant activity from them. I don’t feed birds who will not make the effort to find the food. I think Christ would not apply this principle to God’s provision for us. God provides by setting us under an umbrella of supply and opportunity (both spiritual and financial) Our part is to apply for jobs, learn skills, go to work. In and through this constant activity on our part (with time off for rest and sabbath), God does His promised work of feeding us. This is not a passive promise. God’s generostiy is seen as He give us “power to make wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18)
Sounds like “God helps those who help themselves.”
Luke 6 says, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men”…. so it seems God helps us all. If the evil man, how much more His child.
It seems to me that how He does this is by changing our thinking and teaching us how to trust Him/rely on Him. The warning from Deut. is that we never say, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his Covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
My testimony is that God teaches us how to come to Him/trust Him/have faith/believe His word/receive the Blessings He wants to give us and then as we live in fellowship with Him, we are abundantly amazed at His Goodness.
My business was being limited by something out of my control. I talked with God about it 1 or 2 weeks ago and then this week… “out of the blue”…. the people who were limiting me came to me and said they wanted to help me with the very opportunity I was asking Him about. No coincidence to me…. just His Goodness and Faithfulness.
Father, thank you for all the lessons you teach us. Thanks for all that You are.