I don’t know about you, but I want all the time.
Okay. I know that that is not the meaning of the word “want” in this context. Here it means I will not lack in anything I need. Like a shepherd, God will protect and provide, and I don’t need to worry about any of that.
And yet . . .
We know Christians who do struggle. Who do lack in what they need. Some who are hungry. Some who have lost their homes or their jobs or their health or their spouse.
So how do we reconcile this with Psalm 23:
First, God does do all of those things. He does supply our needs. He does protect. He does heal. But to make those needs the be-all and end-all leaves us hopelessly trapped in the earthly world, those few short years we inhabit this planet.
God did and does more. He provided eternal safety and provision and joy through the sacrifice of His Son, and He continually works to bring us into closer communion with Him.
We know we are going to lack on this earth. Paul attested to this in Philippians 4:11-13 when he said, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
As one site said:
Jesus told His followers, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33, NLT). Our heaven-sent provision will flow from pursuing God’s kingdom first and staying in close fellowship with Him. Only then can we tap into His all-sufficient, unlimited supply of resources. We won’t have to worry about what to eat, drink, or wear because our loving Shepherd knows what we need (Matthew 6:31–32). He will never abandon us or leave us begging for bread (Psalm 37:25). (What is the meaning of . . .)
True safety. True provision. True lacking for nothing means personally knowing our God, seeking what Him above all else, and resting in our trust in Him.
Okay. I know that that is not the meaning of the word “want” in this context. Here it means I will not lack in anything I need. Like a shepherd, God will protect and provide, and I don’t need to worry about any of that.
And yet . . .
We know Christians who do struggle. Who do lack in what they need. Some who are hungry. Some who have lost their homes or their jobs or their health or their spouse.
So how do we reconcile this with Psalm 23:
First, God does do all of those things. He does supply our needs. He does protect. He does heal. But to make those needs the be-all and end-all leaves us hopelessly trapped in the earthly world, those few short years we inhabit this planet.
God did and does more. He provided eternal safety and provision and joy through the sacrifice of His Son, and He continually works to bring us into closer communion with Him.
We know we are going to lack on this earth. Paul attested to this in Philippians 4:11-13 when he said, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
As one site said:
Jesus told His followers, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33, NLT). Our heaven-sent provision will flow from pursuing God’s kingdom first and staying in close fellowship with Him. Only then can we tap into His all-sufficient, unlimited supply of resources. We won’t have to worry about what to eat, drink, or wear because our loving Shepherd knows what we need (Matthew 6:31–32). He will never abandon us or leave us begging for bread (Psalm 37:25). (What is the meaning of . . .)
True safety. True provision. True lacking for nothing means personally knowing our God, seeking what Him above all else, and resting in our trust in Him.
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