God has shown that He is reliable and will give us what we need. But because of His divine wisdom, He gives only what is good for us.
God Knows Your Need; Don’t Worry, He Is Reliable
STM Bible Lesson
Lesson focus: 1 Corinthians 1:9. Bible lesson background 1 Corinthians 1:4-9: Life Application Bible Commentary – God always does just what he says. God has promised, and because he cannot lie (Titus 1:2), believers can be certain that all of his promises will come true.
- 1 Corinthians 1:9 [read 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (9)]
- God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy, and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him, you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (AMP)
- KJV: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Our Lord Is Reliable
- We serve a God who gives us what we need; He is reliable so trust Him.
- Psalms 84:11 [read Psalms 84:10-11 (11)]
- The Lord God is our protector and glorious king. He blesses us with kindness and honor. The Lord freely gives every good thing to those who do what is right. (ERV)
- KJV: For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
God Knows Your Need: Food and Clothing
- Matthew 6:25-26 [read Matthew 6:25-34 (25-26)]
- This is why I say to you: Do not be anxious about your life — what you can get to eat or drink, or about your body — what you can get to wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the wild birds — they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and yet your heavenly Father feeds them! Are not you more precious than they? (OEBus)
- KJV: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Don’t worry about clothes
- Matthew 6:28-30 [read Matthew 6:25-34 (28-30)]
- Why are you worried about clothing? Look at how the lilies of the field grow. They do not toil. They do not spin. 29 I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like these. 30 If God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, won’t he care for you even more? You of little faith! (NSB)
- KJV: And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Or about food
- Matthew 6:31 [read Matthew 6:25-34 (31)]
- “So don’t ever worry by saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ (ISV)
- KJV: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Don’t worry, do this
- Matthew 6:33 [read Matthew 6:25-34 (33)]
- So, you should put the kingdom of God and what He says is right first [in your lives], then all these things [i.e., food, drink, and clothing] will be provided for you. (AUV)
- KJV: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Supported by:
- Psalms 34:8-10 [read Psalms 34:8-10]
- Find out for yourself how good the Lord is. Happy are those who find safety with him. 9 Honor the Lord, all his people; those who obey him have all they need. 10 Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the Lord lack nothing good. (GNT)
- KJV: O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
Basic Needs
- It is God’s promise to meet the needs of his children, it does not include shelter. Jesus only mentioned food, drink, and raiment/clothing.
- Note: [Reference Matthew 6:25; Luke 12:23 {raiment is from the Greek G1742 ἔνδυμα enduma (en’-doo-mah) n. 1. apparel (especially the outer robe); garment, raiment, cloak, an outer garment} and Matthew 6:31].
Be ok with what you have
- 1 Timothy 6:6-8 [read 1 Timothy 6:3-10 (6-8)]
- Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. (NLT)
- KJV: But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
The Moses example
A note to all, but particularly ministers; believe that God is able to give you more than you need. Trust that as you obey and do as He says, He will provide all that you need. As He did with Moses, you will have to tell the people to stop giving because you have more than you need [Exodus 25:1-9 and Exodus 36:1-7].
and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than we need to do the work the Lord commanded.” 6 Then Moses sent this command throughout the camp: “No man or woman should make anything else as a gift for the Holy Tent.” So the people were kept from giving more, Exodus 36:5-6 (NCV)
You do not have to ask anyone for anything. Trust God—demonstrate your faith—to provide what is needed to fulfill the mission He gave you. Remember, He sent the disciples (Apostles) without food or provisions because He was/is the provider. Trust God for the things you need.
God gives what is needed; He is faithful (reliable)
- Psalms 78:24 [read Psalms 78:17-31 (24)]
- He sent down bread from heaven for them to eat. He gave them food from heaven. 27 He sent meat down on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the sea. (NLV)
- KJV: And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
- Psalms 104:14-15 [read Psalms 104:1-35 (14-15)]
- He provides grass for the cattle, and crops for people to cultivate, so they can produce food from the ground, as well as wine that makes people feel so good, and so they can have oil to make their faces shine, as well as food that sustains people’s lives. (NET)
- KJV: He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
Our Role
The body of Christ (the born-again believers) has a role to play in God’s plan to provide for each other. The letter to the Corinthians helps us understand God’s plan to provide for us by our working together. In other words, we need each other to survive. In fact, the Bible says, we are many people but one body joined as one in Christ. So, we should help and care for one another. [Read Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (reference verses: 21 and 24-25].
The believers shared
- Acts 2:44-45 [read Acts 2:40-47 (44-45)]
- And all the believers [in Jesus] were together and shared everything. 45 They sold their belongings and property and divided [the money] among all [the believers] according to each one’s need. (AUV)
- KJV: And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
- Acts 4:32-35 [read 32-37 (32-35)]
- The whole group of believers was united in their thinking and in what they wanted. None of them said that the things they had were their own. Instead, they shared everything. 33 With great power the apostles were making it known to everyone that the Lord Jesus was raised from death. And God blessed all the believers very much. 34 None of them could say they needed anything. Everyone who owned fields or houses sold them. They brought the money they got 35 and gave it to the apostles. Then everyone was given whatever they needed. (ERV)
- KJV: And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need
Are you sharing?
- 1 John 3:17-18 [read 1 John 3:16-23 (17-18)]
- Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need, but does not help. Then God’s love is not living in that person. 18 My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring. (NCV)
- KJV: But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
When we freely share it pleases God
- 1 John 3:22 [read 1 John 3:16-23 (22)]
- We’ll receive from him whatever we ask him for, because we follow his commands and do what pleases him. (FBV)
- KJV: And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
He Is Reliable
You can trust God to do what He says He will do. He said you do not have to worry about what to eat or wear. Know that your heavenly Father cares about you and your needs. No doubt, He said, He will do anything you ask in Jesus name, trust that He will.
- Psalms 33:4 [read Psalms 33:4-5 (4)]
- What the LORD says is right and true. He is faithful in everything he does. (NIRV)
- KJV: For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
Fascinating, the humble King of Kings
Yes, Jesus relied on the kindness of others to provide for His basic needs. What a fascinating and humble Savior we serve.
- Matthew 21:1-3 [read ()]
- When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,‘ and immediately he will send them.” (WEB)
- KJV: And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
Are you willing to trust God for your needs?
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 [read 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 (8)]
- Since God loves you, he is able to give you more than you need. You will always have every good thing that you need for yourselves. And you will have enough to do many good things to help other people. (EASY)
- KJV: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Trust God—demonstrate your faith—to provide your basic needs. Remember, He sent the disciples (apostles) without food or provisions because He is reliable. So trust Him! Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺
Related studies/lessons/snacks for further spiritual growth:
See what is available on the Sound Truth Ministry website.
♥ Question for “God Knows Your Need; Don’t Worry, He Is Reliable”: Are you trusting God for your needs?
I look forward to your feedback via comment at the bottom of the page or by emailing [email protected]. Have a fantabulous day!
