God Knows Our Needs

Though I have lived in Australia a relatively short time compared to people who have lived their whole lives here, I have seen a number of significant changes.  I have watched as urban sprawl has swallowed up my old neighbourhood, and I have enjoyed the benefit of better public transportation using the Metro in western Sydney.  One of the biggest changes I see constantly is costs continue to rise as government, council and business try to squeeze maximum profit from consumers.  While wages remain unchanged, the cost of rates, taxes, insurance and food continues to increase.  The other day I saw chocolate offered at Woolies at half price for $18, and I remember only a few years ago $18 was full price.  As the cost has gone up, the amount purchased has also diminished 16%!  While the cost of a bag of coffee beans went down less than 10%, the amount of beans also shrunk a whopping 30%.

When we begin to feel the pinch of the cost of living increases when we fill up our cars with petrol, pay tolls to drive on roads or buy an Australian passport, it is easy to despair about financial pressures beyond our control.  We may be inclined to look for someone or something to blame, whether it be government policies, ineptitude of the local council, corporate greed or a war on the other side of the world.  It is easy to point the finger at politicians or wealthy entrepreneurs, that they should be doing things differently.  There are people in debt and disenfranchised, desiring the wealth of the few to be shared among the poorer (and they would include themselves among worthy recipients).  It is tale as old as time with supposed "systemic" injustices driven by pride, entitlement and envy.  It is as Jesus said, for He placed serving God opposite money and we must choose one to serve.  Most in this world serve the almighty dollar, regardless if they have many dollars or few.

King Solomon acknowledged the power of God concerning the prosperity of people in Ecclesiastes 5:19:  "As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God."  Before the children of Israel were settled in the land God promised to give their fathers, God warned them how wealth ensnares people with pride and can cause them to forget God and all He has done for them in Deuteronomy 8:17-18:  "...then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' ¹⁸ And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."  King Nebuchadnezzar was filled with pride because of the glory of the kingdom God gave him, and many people have been arrogant and selfish with far less.  Agur asked God in Proverbs 30:7-9:  "Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): ⁸ remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches--feed me with the food allotted to me; ⁹ lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God."  The money we earn and food we eat are gifts from God we ought to be thankful and grateful to Him for.

Jesus supplied wise guidance concerning our view of financial matters, that we ought to labour and trust the LORD who knows our needs is able to supply them.  God has given us lives that are more than food, water and clothes.  Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 6:31-33:  "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  Rather than despairing to see prices of goods go up, we can look to the LORD with gratitude who supplies our needs faithfully.  The rich man in a parable Jesus told felt secure because of his plentiful harvest and vast stores when he should have been looking to God to live wisely.  Those who seek wealth will never be satisfied or secure, but those who fix their eyes on Jesus and His righteousness have all this and more beyond measure.