Tag: God’s Provisions

Devotionals

A long-term investment strategy

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 37:16-22 NLT – It is better to be godly and have – Bible Gateway

“It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.” Psalm 37:16 NLT

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Investing for the future makes sense. Old sayings like ‘a penny saved is a penny earned’ and ‘saving for a rainy day’ have been repeated to young children to instill upon them the importance of saving for the future. High school and college graduates entering the workforce will begin, if they are smart, investing for family planning, buying a home, and all the expenses accumulated in life. Investing for the future also includes a retirement plan for when your working days are over. Some people put this off thinking they have lots of time, but another old saying is ‘time flies.’ I remember thinking back years ago in my first full-time job and seeing my retirement date. It seemed like an eternity away; well that date came and went five years ago.

For the Christian, while it is smart to invest financially, it is also vital to invest in living a godly life which will benefit in your overall retirement goal. Biblical commentator David Guzik says Psalm 37:16 is ‘a long-term investment strategy.’ King David wrote, “It is better to be godly and have little.” (Ps.37:16 nlt) You see, with God little is much. Living a godly life, obeying God, working hard, caring for your family, being a good neighbor, and helping others are also part of a long-term investment strategy.

There is nothing wrong in being rich. God blesses the rich as well. Their riches are even more abundant in God’s hands. David is saying in this psalm if you need to be evil and shady to secure your future it’s not worth it. “For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the LORD takes care of the godly. Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.” (Ps.37:17-18 nlt) A sure long-term investment strategy is living a godly life of obedience. It is never too early or too late to start as long as you start now.

Devotionals

Who do you trust for your needs?

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 12:41-44 NLT – The Widow’s Offering – Jesus sat down – Bible Gateway

“Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.” Mark 12:42 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

The Bible is full of practical answers for all matters of life in this world. For instance, any question we may have concerning our lives we can find an example to cover it. A big concern for most people is financial stability. The Bible has a lot to say about money and Jesus did not shy away from the subject. We can be confident of God’s Word to lead us in a right direction.

God has given us the gift of work to meet our needs. I know work does not seem like a gift on some days, but be assured, it is. He has given us free will with what we do with our money with certain guidelines. The important thing to remember is this; how successful or unsuccessful we are have come from the hand of God. Yes, our ability and hard work contributes to our success, but again our ability and knowledge comes from God.

Jesus and His disciples were sitting in the Temple watching people drop money in the collection box. Many rich people put in substantial amounts from their surplus and a poor widow dropped in two small coins. It would seem obvious who contributed more but not really given a closer look. Jesus said the widow put in all she had to live on. She trusted God to meet her needs. She didn’t worry about where her next meal would come from, she knew God would provide. This poor widow, indeed, put in more. So, who do you trust to meet your needs? Are you depending on yourself or on God?

Devotionals

Hold your money loosely

Loring Schultz
Photo by Lukas Blazek on Pexels.com

You may be thinking today’s title is not wise advice and I would agree if I were walking the streets of New York city. I would be sure to have a secure grip on my wallet. Another thing that sounds strange is that money is not that important. Paul tells Timothy that money is ‘so unreliable.’ For the Christian, our trust should be in God and not in our money.

Holding on to our money too tight makes it harder for us to let it go. It gives us a false sense of security and blinds us to the needs of others around us. We are to trust God for our security because He supplies all our need with money left over to enjoy life. When we trust God with our finances we find there will be money left over to share with others. But if we hold tight that money in our hands we will never find out.

The Lord wants us to use our money wisely, ‘to do good’ with it. We are to be  generous to those in need with our money but also in good works giving our time in whatever need others may have. Holding our money loosely and relying on God to meet our needs will not only bless us but those around us in need.

And there is nothing wrong in investing for the future. In fact it is wise. But while we are investing the same rule applies. Hold your investments loosely so you have money left over to invest in the kingdom of God. Make it a good deposit storing up treasures in heaven.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” 

Devotionals

Always Something Good in God’s Hand     

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 145:14-21 NLT – The LORD helps the fallen and lifts – Bible Gateway

“When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16 NLT

Photo by Sergiu Vălenaș on Unsplash

When you were a child did you ever have one of your grandparents come up to you with a close hand containing a pleasant surprise? The imagery of that precious moment may still be impressed in your mind. God, our heavenly Father, has more than a surprise for us in His hand. He freely gives us all we need in this life and in the life to come. His hand always has something good for us.

Psalm 145 may have been the last of David’s seventy-five psalms he wrote. It is a psalm of praise for who God is and for all He has done. The first half of the psalm David praises God for His greatness and His grace. Beginning in verse fourteen he praises God for His faithfulness and righteousness. The Lord always has His eye on us to help us as we look to Him in hope for what we need. (14-15) We can count on His provisions to be exactly what we need when we need them. (16-17) God is near to those who call on Him in truth. (18) The Lord hears the cries of us who fear Him with the reverential fear due Him. He will help us and protect throughout our lives. (19-20)

David, later in his life,  understood more than anybody there is always something good in God’s hand. Sometimes that good was in the form of discipline, but David knew it was for his good. It is the same for us. There is always something good for us in God’s hand for our good. May we sing along with David as he closed his final psalm, “I will praise the LORD, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.” (Ps.145:21 nlt)

Devotionals

Leftovers

Loring Schultz

Read: Matthew 14:13-21 NLT – Jesus Feeds Five Thousand – As soon as – Bible Gateway

“They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.” Matthew 14:20 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

What do you do with the leftovers after you have finished your evening meal? For some there may not be any, but for my wife and I since it is just the two of us we always have something leftover. Usually we save it for the next day or if it will keep until the day after. We most likely come home with a box from a restaurant on the evenings we dine out. Some might say we’re not big eaters, but I would beg to differ, like most people we like to eat. The same was true in Jesus’s day. People liked to and needed to eat.

Jesus had the opportunity to feed over five thousand people after they came to Him for healing and to hear His teaching. It was also an opportunity to display His compassion, His miraculous power, and His concern for the leftovers.  Jesus had compassion for the people for in Mark’s version it says “he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mk. 6:34) His miraculous power was seen in the distribution of the loaves and fish to the more than five thousand people for he only had five loaves and two fish to start with, but He made it work. Jesus supplied more than enough and didn’t want to see any waste. John’s account in his gospel says, “After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, ‘Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.’” (Jn. 6:12)

Our Lord will never fail to meet our needs. In fact, as with the feeding of the multitude He will often supply more than enough. Perhaps not more than we want, but certainly more than we need. Enough for us and enough left over to share with others in need. The disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. One for each of them to remind them of Jesus’s ability to care for their needs, to understand that with Him little becomes much, and to not waste any leftovers He has blessed us with, but to use it to serve Him as He directs.

Devotionals

God’s Providential Care for Every Living Thing

Loring Schultz

“The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.” Psalm 145:15-16 NLT

Photo by Ivan Rudoy on Unsplash

Have you ever thought about the ways God provides food for animals in the wild and living creatures in the sea? It is amazing to witness their instant as they prey upon their victims, their food source. We may find it hard to watch, but it is by God’s design and the victim had their own fill before that dreadful moment. The bottom line is God has a plan to provide food for every living being and that includes us as human beings.

The psalmist writes the eyes of all look to God in hope and are given food from above when needed. Animals do not possess the nature of sensing God but they have the instinct given by God that directs them in what they need to survive. When they are hungry they know where to go to find food. God does provide for them. “When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.” (Ps.145:16 nlt) And that includes every animal and every fish of the sea.

Most importantly that includes every one of us. It is hard to comprehend this when we see so much starvation in the world, but that doesn’t negate God’s providential care for us. He has provided us with rich resources and the ability to feed the world. The problem lies in that the world is sinful, turning our backs on God, and going our own selfish way. This creates the current chaotic times we live in which includes undernourished people across the world. But Jesus’ hands and feet are on the earth in those who know Him. God will use us in His providential care for every person who needs help in their daily supplies. May we be willing participates in God’s providential care for every living thing.

Devotionals

Lifted Up His Eyes

Loring Schultz

Read: Genesis 13:1-13 ESV – Abram and Lot Separate – So Abram went – Bible Gateway

Read: Genesis 19:23-29 ESV – God Destroys Sodom – The sun had risen – Bible Gateway

“And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)” Genesis 13:10 ESV

Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.com

You wouldn’t think taking a good look around, analyzing what is best for you and your family, then proceeding in that direction would end up in tragedy. But that is exactly what happen to a man named Lot in the Old Testament book of Genesis. Lot and his uncle Abram were both wealthy with many flocks and herds. As they traveled together it became increasingly difficult for the land to support both of them, so, Abram proposed they separate. Abram gave Lot the choice in which direction he wanted to go and then he would go in the opposite direction. Lot made his choice and moved on and Abram went his way in the opposite direction.

There is nothing wrong with choosing a good path to travel and then settle down in a prosperous area to make a living. But if your choice is based on greed or selfishness you are bound for trouble. When Abram told Lot he could choose first, the Bible says, “And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD.” (Gen.13:10 esv) Indeed, it was the better of the two directions. Yes, he took what was best for him by sight as he looked around. But he could have offered it to his uncle to see if he wanted it first, no, instead he looked and took what he saw.

Lot’s choice did not work out. It brought him and his family into the area of Sodom and Gomorrah, eventually living in Sodom itself. Many Christians today find themselves being tempted to take the road that seems best by what they see with their eyes without consulting the Lord. We see only on the surface, but the Lord is able to see what lurks underneath what we desire in our greed and selfishness. Let God guide our decisions and not lift up our eyes.

Devotionals

Bottomless Grace 

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Kings 17:8-16 NLT – The Widow at Zarephath – Then the LORD – Bible Gateway

“There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.” 1 Kings 17:16 NLT

Photo by Andrew Neel on Pexels.com

I enjoy going to a restaurant that serves a bottomless cup of coffee. You never worry if that second cup is coming or will I have enough coffee to finish my meal. There is a story in the Old Testament book of 1 Kings that tells of a poor widow who had a bottomless cup of grace given to her for her faith and obedience to God.

The prophet Elijah predicted there would be no rain for the next couple of years until Elijah spoke it. No rain led to a famine that devastated all of Israel. Elijah wasn’t exempt from feeling the effects of the famine. The Lord did provide for him in miraculous ways, one of them through this poor widow. Elijah was told to go to the town of Zarephath north of Israel along the Mediterranean Sea where he would meet a woman who would feed him. He met her, but she only had enough for one last meal for her and her son and after that she expected they would die. But God told Elijah that she would feed him.

When the woman told Elijah of her dilemma he responded in a way to test her faith as she revealed an awareness of the Lord God Elijah serves. “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!” (1Kg.17:13-14 nlt) The woman would have a bottomless flour and olive oil supply.

She obeyed the word of the Lord and was given bottomless grace for the daily provisions as long as the drought and famine continued. Perhaps you’re facing a dry spell in your life on this day. Maybe you’re in the middle of a spiritual drought. Perhaps the Lord is testing you to step out in faith and help someone at your own expense as the poor widow. She obeyed the Lord and her needs were met. Why not do the same and receive a bottomless cup of grace from the Lord. It’s much better than a bottomless cup of coffee.

Devotionals

What Do You Need?      

Loring Schultz

Read: Matthew 6:31-34 NLT – “So don’t worry about these things, – Bible Gateway

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 NLT

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

There isn’t a person who has ever lived that didn’t have any needs. There is no one alive today who doesn’t have any sort of need. Our God promises to take care of our needs, but there are some of us who fret over a potential future downfall of our income or a rise in our expenses. Will we be able to make ends meet? Well, if that is our attitude, we’re focusing on the wrong things.

Jesus told His disciples and anyone willing to pay attention the remedy for having all we need. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Mt.6:33 nlt) The Lord knows what we need. He also knows what we don’t need, so, don’t expect Him to give it to you. God’s desire for us is to seek His kingdom. Looking upward as opposed to horizontally to the things of this world will help us see the light of what is not needed in this life, but what is needed for eternal life. Our desires will become His desires as we live righteously leading others to the kingdom of God through faith in Christ.

Don’t get caught up worrying about your needs in this life. Trust in the Lord. He will provide. Just make sure your priorities are in order. What do you need? You need to ‘Seek the kingdom of God above all else,’ and let Him do the rest.

Devotionals

Despised or honored?    

Loring Schultz

“But I (God) will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.” 1 Samuel 2:30 NLT

“….. I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal.” Daniel 4:34 NLT

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Have you ever stopped to think of how many things you take for granted on a typical day? You woke up this morning. You had a nourishing breakfast to start your day. If you’re working today, you have a job. Students, you have a school of learning waiting for you. You have transportation to get you there. You have clothes on your back. The sun came up this morning and the moon will rise this evening. We get rain when we need it and sometimes when we don’t need it, but that is in the hands of the rainmaker, our Lord God. In fact, everything we take for granted is supplied by our creator God. We cannot claim anything achieved or possessed as our own. God is the source for it all.

Taking things for granted is taking them too lightly. We expect those things, whatever they are, will always be there without giving thought to their origin. We surmise somehow that we had a part in their existence. When we take for granted everything we have, or put ourselves in control of our own destiny, we are thinking lightly of God. He is the creator and ruler over all things. He is all sufficient and the one who supplies our needs.

Recognizing God is all sufficient and is the Most High and is ruler forever over all things pleases God. The Lord God Himself says, “But I will honor those who honor me.” (1Sam.2:30a nlt) But the Lord also says to us who take too many things for granted, “I will despise those who think lightly of me.” (1Sam.2:30b nlt) The question to ask yourself is, ‘am I despised or honored?’ Let it be, ‘I’m honored.”