Does God care about your material needs? Or is he only concerned about spiritual things? Some Christians believe God could care less about His people when it comes to the material world. He couldn’t care less about our material needs.  That’s what some believe.

To believe such a thing, though, is to totally ignore what the Word of God says. If you’re going to be a Christian, then your final authority on everything has to be the Bible. Yes, it’s kind of extreme, but then again, the world is kind of extreme. The world has no final authority on anything. When it comes to deciding anything, the world just goes with what they think is best at the moment. And that’s until the majority changes that thought.

If God is not concerned with the material world, if He’s not concerned about whether you starve or can pay your rent, how much of a “loving Father” is He? The Bible is filled with instance after instance talking about how loving He is. But if He’s not concerned with the things that concern our lives, then how loving is He? Even human parents are concerned with their children’s material (and spiritual) problems. Surely God has greater love and compassion than human parents.

He does. God is far more concerned about our material needs than we are. And not only is He concerned about them, He’s also provided a way to take care of them. We just have to look at the final authority on it all—the Word of God. What does it say?

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Matthew 6:33

Right here, Jesus tells us that if we seek God’s kingdom (His will, His way of doing things, put Him, His desires, and His ways first), then all of the things He just talked about in the previous verses will be given to us. So Jesus has provided a way to get these things to us. So what are these things? The needs of life. What we wear, what we eat. And if God is concerned about those things, He’s probably concerned about other things in our lives too, right? Of course.

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

In this verse, it’s made clear that if it’s a need, God will take care of it for you. The word ‘all’, if you look it up in the dictionary, means ‘all’. Yes, ‘all’ means ‘all’. It means everything. God has committed to taking care of everything that you need in this life. Not after you die, but this life. Notice, though, when you read this verse in context, that it’s talking to givers. So to get this to work in your life, you have to qualify. God is showing that He desires and will take care of His people, but there’s something we have to do.

Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! – Matthew 7:9-11

The gifts that are being talked about in verse 11 are not limited to spiritual things. Neither is it limited to after you die and get to Heaven. It doesn’t say either of those things. God has not limited the good gifts He’s going to give to the natural or spiritual, nor is He limiting them to before or after you die. It’s all of them. That’s because He’s the God of more than enough. He’s the all sufficient God.

“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. – Deuteronomy 8:18

This last verse goes against a lot of Christians’ beliefs, even though it’s in the Bible. God is concerned not just with the natural and spiritual but also with the financial. Yes, God wants you taken care of financially. In fact, it says He is the one who gives you the power to get wealth. Wealth is not table scraps. Wealth is more than enough because God, again, is more than enough. God is concerned with your money. That’s because you’re concerned with your money. You need money to eat, to pay bills, and to do things for the Lord.

Just Needs?

Some may say that this is all well and good for your needs, but not your wants. God isn’t concerned with your wants. That’s foolish. And it’s not scriptural. Remember, always stay with the Word of God. God is concerned with your needs and your wants. That’s what the Bible says.

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. – 1 Timothy 6:17

A lot of people like to use this verse as a reason why people shouldn’t be rich or want to be rich. But that’s not saying that. It’s saying not to trust in riches. And you shouldn’t. You shouldn’t trust in a lot of things. In fact, the number one thing (person in this case) that you should trust in is God Himself. Everything else will fail, but God won’t.

What you should notice in this verse is that it says God “gives us richly all things to enjoy.” All things. Not just needs. You can enjoy your needs being met, but you really enjoy the things you want. God is concerned with our wants.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. – Psalm 23:1

Even David knew God was concerned with our wants. Not just our needs.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. – Psalm 34:9-10

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. – Psalm 84:11

God is concerned with our needs and our wants. That’s because He’s a loving father. But if this is true, then there’s a question that is left wide out in the open, isn’t there? If God is concerned with my every need (and want), how come I’m still wanting and needing?

That’s a great question. However, it’s a question that needs its own post. So check out the next post on why your needs and wants aren’t being met. Until then, stay with the Word and the Spirit.