Bible Questions Answered: Trusting God

Bible Questions Answered:
I have a friend my age-36, who is married, with four kids. His wife works a full time job, and he only works part time. He tells me “God shall supply, all I need.”
I feel sorry for his wife, they live, in a run down house, and hand outs from their church.
What does the Bible say about this, is he right?
Aerick/ Manchester, UK

Bible Answers:
He is definitely, wrong!

Philippians 4:19 KJV
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The context of this scripture, which your friend seems so willingly to quote, is as follows.

The Philippian believers through Epaphroditus, had sent the Apostle Paul and abundance of gifts.
The Apostle said, the giving was such in abundance and blessing as to be a “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18 KJV)

In return Apostle Paul, told the Philippian church that “ But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 KJV.

And the needs of the Philippian believers were not necessarily, riches, but rather God's Spiritual blessings, i.e. spiritual gifts within the church, etc.
It would be God, who would decide what their needs were and fill those needs, “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. “

Not that God can't help us with His riches, “if” we are sincerely doing our part!

Now again take this text:

Luke 12:16-31 KJV
16 And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Was our Lord, saying here that we need not take any provision for our food, clothing, housing, etc. etc. etc.?
Never!

What was He saying?
He was saying that we should provide for family, and ourselves, but not to the point of having a heart filled with fear!

“How will we be by fall, I wonder if I'll still have a job, I wonder if we'll still have our house...one fearful thought after another, without end.

I John 4:18 KJV
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment.
He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

II Timothy 1:7 KJV
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Philippians 4:6 KJV
Be careful* for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

*Careful-Greek-Merimnao (Mer-im-nah-o): To be anxious about... (Abingdon's/Strong's Concordance of the Bible.)

Philippians 4:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.


Should we provide for ourselves and our family?

I Timothy 5:8 KJV
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

I Timothy 5:8 NLT
But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

Proverbs 6:6 KJV
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Proverbs 10:5 KJV
He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Proverbs 12:11 KJV
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

Proverbs 13:4,11 NLT
4 Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.

Proverbs 14:23 NLT
Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

Romans 12:11 NLT
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

As we “work, as we do our best,” so that we may provide for our loved ones, yet we are to “trust,” our heavenly Father, who remembers us both physically and spiritually, as His children!

Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV
"But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth"

Psalm 37:5 KJV
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 34:22 KJV
The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants: and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.

Proverbs 3:5 KJV
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Isaiah 26:3,4 KJV
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: