(Today’s post is by guest writer, Lucas Ward).
1 Kings 17:1-7 tells of the time that Elijah told Ahab that it wouldn't rain. God then told Elijah to flee Ahab and hide by a certain brook where "I have commanded the ravens to feed thee." So Elijah hid out there "and the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening and he drank of the brook." We usually read this passage and think 'Wow, look how God takes care of His people! He even commands the birds to bring Elijah food!" Which is true, and we should be comforted by the thought that God took care of His servant, and He has promised to continue to take care of His servants (Mt. 6:33). Truly He is a loving God.
I do want you to notice one thing, though. Elijah wasn't eating 5 star meals. Twice a day birds brought little pieces of bread and little pieces of meat to him. Bite sized pieces that were CARRIED IN BIRDS’ BEAKS! It seems unlikely that Elijah gained much weight during this time. God promised to take care of him, not to provide sumptuous feasts, and Elijah didn’t complain about the manner of transport and its possible contaminants.
God promises to take care of us. In Matt. 6 we are promised food and clothing if we "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness". He doesn't promise us big houses or nice cars. He doesn't promise the latest fashions or the coolest electronics. He promises to give us our necessities (actual, real necessities, not wants) so we can live to serve Him. If we ever go through difficult times during which we go from eating out a couple of times a month to eating less so our kids can have more, we ought to not fret over what we don't have and praise Him for what we do. Elijah didn't have a house or even the few comforts most people in the Iron Age could expect. But God did make sure that he could eat. We can’t let economic hard times weaken our faith. God will take care of us but God only promises to provide for His people, not pamper them. We should take nothing for granted and give Him thanks for all things.
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content, 1 Timothy 6:6-8.
Lucas Ward
1 Kings 17:1-7 tells of the time that Elijah told Ahab that it wouldn't rain. God then told Elijah to flee Ahab and hide by a certain brook where "I have commanded the ravens to feed thee." So Elijah hid out there "and the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening and he drank of the brook." We usually read this passage and think 'Wow, look how God takes care of His people! He even commands the birds to bring Elijah food!" Which is true, and we should be comforted by the thought that God took care of His servant, and He has promised to continue to take care of His servants (Mt. 6:33). Truly He is a loving God.
I do want you to notice one thing, though. Elijah wasn't eating 5 star meals. Twice a day birds brought little pieces of bread and little pieces of meat to him. Bite sized pieces that were CARRIED IN BIRDS’ BEAKS! It seems unlikely that Elijah gained much weight during this time. God promised to take care of him, not to provide sumptuous feasts, and Elijah didn’t complain about the manner of transport and its possible contaminants.
God promises to take care of us. In Matt. 6 we are promised food and clothing if we "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness". He doesn't promise us big houses or nice cars. He doesn't promise the latest fashions or the coolest electronics. He promises to give us our necessities (actual, real necessities, not wants) so we can live to serve Him. If we ever go through difficult times during which we go from eating out a couple of times a month to eating less so our kids can have more, we ought to not fret over what we don't have and praise Him for what we do. Elijah didn't have a house or even the few comforts most people in the Iron Age could expect. But God did make sure that he could eat. We can’t let economic hard times weaken our faith. God will take care of us but God only promises to provide for His people, not pamper them. We should take nothing for granted and give Him thanks for all things.
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content, 1 Timothy 6:6-8.
Lucas Ward
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