God’s Provision

God’s Provision

Don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:31-33

I believe God provides for his children. However, I also believe the old saying, “God gives every bird its food, but he doesn’t throw it into the nest!” So, while we are praying for God’s provision, we can do our part to gain solid financial footing. Often that starts by following the four rules most debt counselors offer:

• Use no credit cards.
• Reduce existing debt.
• Balance the checkbook each month.
• Identify and conquer your biggest personal financial problem—whether it’s overspending or impulse buying.

To that list I would add one more item: Ponder creative ways to make extra money. One of my single-parent friends, Christine, budgeted carefully to care for her three children. But one month it seemed as if every appliance needed repairs. Then, just as she paid to have the belt on the washing machine replaced, an unexpected bill for the house escrow shortage arrived—one hundred and seventeen dollars, due on receipt. Christine’s paycheck wasn’t due until the end of the month, and she wondered how she was going to pay the bill.

That night at the dinner table, she included this latest need in her prayer. After the amen, Christine’s twelve-year-old daughter said, “Let’s have a garage sale this Saturday.” Even though it was too late to put an ad in the paper and they had only two days to prepare, Christine and her children cleaned closets, the shed, and the garage, searching for items they could sell. They also prayed God would send lots of buyers.

On Saturday morning, the first customer bought three dollars’ worth of pink throw pillows. The next customer purchased two patio chairs that needed new webbing. By the end of the day, most of the items had been sold—for exactly one hundred and seventeen dollars. What an answer to Christine’s need! And what a wonderful faith builder for her children. —SANDRA

Lord, I now understand that you have promised to supply our needs, not our wants. I confess I want to be rescued instead of having to put in the extra effort needed to get out of debt. But I thank you for not abandoning me, and I thank you in advance for the creative ideas you will bring.

Charge cards are financial stranglers. After all, being in debt is one way to have less than nothing. —SANDRA P. ALDRICH