Do we not know that God is the provider? Do we not know that always rushing ourselves to help others instead of pointing them to Jesus is substituting ourselves to the Lord? My brother, my sister, our societies have created lots of assisted rather than patient and persistent people… among them many believers.
It’s interesting to note that when a brother or sister in Christ is in need and approaches another for material help, they are never satisfied if the only thing they are offered is prayer. My friend, should we always be prompted to help people materially, or should we first seek God before even helping if we can? True enough that the Bible says: “Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you” Proverbs 3:18). The same Bible also says this: “Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”” (Acts 3:4-6). Yes, it is what we have we should give, but does it necessarily has to be something material, something palpable?
We, the Christians, should be very careful not to take the place of God, trying to help people instead of leading them to the provider. I remember a man who contacted me on several occasions for food, for money and complaining he had no work. Once I indeed gave give food, another time I gave him money… and every time I asked him to come to church and that he should seek God, the provider of all things as today’s verse says. He never came to church. He even disappeared until he needed some more help. Then I told him: you always come to me for little coins and you are refusing to seek the One who can give you notes. The person contacted me again many times, and as I offered the Word to Him, he stopped calling me. So, my question today, my friend is, are we not sometimes substituting ourselves to God by helping people instead of just leading them to the provider? Do we realise that God can liberally supply (fill to the full) our every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus? Just listen to what David said to understand that when someone is in desperate need of anything in this world, they actually are desperately in need of the Lord, not what they are asking for: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). God, the almighty, the Sovereign, the God of Love cannot let His child who lives according to His righteousness starve, jobless or in despair, for Jesus came into the world to give us live abundantly and with this life, peace. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.