Hoarding

          Hoarding is one of those things that has been around for a long time. There seem to be things that a human being doesn't want to be without. The recent virus outbreak has brought this to our attention once more as people try to stock up on extra supplies of the big three; toilet paper, bread and milk. The idea of hoarding was evident even in the time of Moses and his leadership trying to get the Israelites out of Egypt, through the wilderness and into the promise land. Having run out of food, they had to depend on “manna” from heaven and they had to have faith that it would be there in the morning. That didn't sit well with some people so they tried to get an extra bushel of the manna, “just in case.” Well, we know what happened, it spoiled and was full of worms. That took place on most days, except the day before the Sabbath, when they could get a double portion and that portion would not spoil. So, we know that God had control over the condition of the manna on every day. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

          God's supply of things is something that fits every area of our lives. In the book of Philippians, they had given to Paul's need so much that they found themselves in want but Paul assured them that God would meet their needs. The same is true for us today. God will supply our needs. What is important during these times is our attention to be doing what God has commanded us to do. He desires us to keep building our relationship with Him which is going to be involving Scripture and Prayer to conform us to the image of Christ. We are also exhorted to keep doing the “one another” commands that are placed throughout the New Testament. We keep being involved in our growth from day to day and let God keep supplying what we need. He has ways of doing that which are far from our personal understanding. I have no idea how the medical profession bills patients. I usually pay a “co-pay” and they bill the insurance for some of it and the rest seems to disappear in adjustments. After it is all done, I sometimes get a refund for some bill that was paid months before. I never know when or if it is coming but when it does, to me, it is God's providing for something else as the time it is needed. As usual, God supplies. It was said of two missionaries that one had received an extra $10,000 and so gave to the other missionary with a note that said, “I don't need this at the time and maybe you do.” the two missionaries were Hudson Taylor and George Mueller. God has a way of moving things around so that all needs of every believer are met. It has always been interesting to me that God chose the exact words for the above text in that He will supply all of our “needs” but it doesn't say that He will supply all of our “wants.” We can praise God today for His supplying of our needs in each of our situations.