Patterning God, The Great Provider

By Helen Bessent Byrd (M.Div.’07)

As a child, I learned that God is magnanimous and generous. The third passage of the Old Testament that I memorized was the 24th Psalm which begins, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (KJV).  In Acts 17:24-28, Paul taught people in Athens this same message proclaiming that, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands…and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation…In him we live and move and have our being” (KJV).

The message from Paul was and is that God is the creator and provider for us all bringing to completion his purposes for humankind and the rest of creation. God alone is trusted with provision of the good things of creation which are subject to God’s sovereignty. As we are reminded in Jeremiah 31:10, God will keep you as a shepherd cares for his flock of sheep. He will feed his flock like a shepherd and carry the young lambs in his bosom. God is a great provider.

Believers today must remember that everything belongs to God. If you want to be blessed with provisions from God, you need to trust in and maintain a right relationship with the Triune God. Only when we are willing to surrender what we value do we recognize that God is most important. When you are overwhelmed by troubles at every hand, God will provide. You can make ends meet when you put God between them.

God makes all of the provisions available to us, but we have responsibilities too. We are stewards of the provisions. We may use them, but we must take good care of the earth. When we fail to care for the environment, we damage its use by future generations. Just think about it, coal mining on the land, oil drilling in the oceans, clear-cutting the forests, chemically polluting the waters and air have all been in the news in recent times. Be reminded, if you take care of the things that are dear to God, God will take care of the things that are dear to you.

When you obey God, God gives generously. God invokes us to have the same mind as Christ Jesus and give generously of the provisions that you receive. Live simply so that others may simply live! As you reflect and pray on these matters, remember to include provision for academic preparation of future ministers and educators by supporting Union. When you obey God, the great provider, God generously gives to you!