God is our provider

Next time you sit down at your table to eat a meal, stop and think about all the people it took to make it possible. A farmer grew or raised the ingredients needed to make it; a food processing company prepared and packaged it; a transport company shipped it; a supermarket sold it; then someone paid the price to buy it, cook it, and put it in front of you to eat. There are many links in this chain, but the first link is God. He made the soil, the seeds, and the livestock. Without Him, we would have nothing. That’s why each time we have something to eat, it’s right to ‘say grace’, or give thanks to Him. When someone sets food for our enjoyment and nourishment in front of us, it’s good manners to respond by saying, ‘Thank you.’ Here’s a reminder from the Bible: ‘Every good action and every perfect gift is from God’ (James 1:17 NCV). We might be thinking that we’ve worked hard for the things we have. God is pleased with our effort, commitment, and good work ethic – but that’s not the whole story. Here’s the rest: ‘Command those who are rich with things of this world not to be proud. Tell them to hope in God, not in their uncertain riches. God richly gives us everything to enjoy. Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.’ (1 Timothy 6:17-18 NKJV). When God says ‘be generous and ready to share,’ He’s simply saying, ‘I’ve been the provider of all your blessings – now you go out and share those blessings with others.’