God as Our Portion is our Best Provision and Hope
We’ve been crafting an understanding of our relationship with God over the lasts several weeks. We must recognize we relate to God in multi-faceted ways. He is our friend, our authority as the Sovereign King, and our source of wisdom and counsel.
Provider and Portion
I see one final element to our relationship with God. He is also our provider and our portion. I personally treasure this aspect of relating to God the most.
When we hear the two words, provider and portion, we may not automatically see the connection. We easily grasp the concept of God as our provider. And though we have most likely heard the idea of God as our portion, we may not consider it along with the idea of provision.
Provision
When I hear the word provision, I imagine a smorgasbord. I see a wide selection of delicious options that cater to a variety of tastes. Anyone who comes to this banquet gets to eat their fill. We each can select what compliments our unique taste buds and we find more than enough to satisfy.
I associate another concept with the idea of provision. I assume if someone provides, then they also pay for everything they have provided. They assume full responsibility for all that is given. I don’t have to pay a cover charge, entry fee, nor tax.
We might believe Paul describes this in Philippians 4:19. “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (CSB) I’m convinced we have all asked God for something in a way that resembles coming to a free buffet.
What Do We Really Need?
As I packed all our belongings for our move to Missouri, I came face to face with the truth there is so much I really don’t need. And yet, I find myself often saying “I need this or that.”
For example, I said more times than I can count, “we need to buy a house,” or some variation thereof. Honestly? We didn’t need a house. Would our own house be nice? Yes. Did we need some sort of shelter? Yes. Could God have met our need in a different way? Most assuredly. However, I wanted a house with a list of specific qualifications.
We claim we need all sorts of things. We need purpose, a car, more clothes, free time, friends, a thinner body, a younger face, and the list goes on. Many of us plan our budgets, time and even careers around our wish list of needs. If we truly examined our lives, we would discover we may not need any of the items on our list.
Jesus’ Different Perspective
“Therefore, I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?”
Matthew 6:25-26, CSB
In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges His followers to view life with a different perspective. He reassures us He is fully aware of what we need to survive. In addition, since we are valuable to Him, He will provide what we need.
Later in Matthew 6, Jesus states, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:33, CSB) God willingly listens to every prayer we offer. He is pleased when we bring our wants and desires to Him because He is the giver of every good thing (James 1:17). However, He calls us to seek and then align ourselves with the values of His Kingdom first before we bring our litany of requests.
God as the Levites’ Portion
I think this is where the idea of God as our portion is so helpful. In Numbers 18 we read about God’s provision for Aaron, his sons, and their family as priests. “The LORD told Aaron, ‘You will not have an inheritance in their land; there will be no portion among them for you. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.’” (Numbers 18:20, CSB)
All other eleven tribes received a specific portion of the promised land. God gave them the land as their inheritance so each tribe could provide for their families for generations. God provided what they needed for food, protection, shelter, and future hope by giving them land.
However, Aaron and the tribe of Levi were to serve God as priests. They wouldn’t have time to plant and harvest crops or build cities or fight off the enemy. God commanded them to fully commit to caring for the Tabernacle, offering sacrifices to maintain a right relationship between the people and God, and teaching the Israelites how best to follow God.
What does God as My Portion Mean?
God, in his goodness, tells Aaron, “I am your portion.” Later in the Psalms, Asaph says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.” The author of Lamentations states, “Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say ‘The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.’” (Lamentations 3:22-24, CSB)
When I first studied this concept years ago, God gave me the visual of a pie. God cut the pie (which was pumpkin by the way) and He handed me a generous slice. My portion of the pie now sat before me. God gave the slice to me as a gift. I didn’t have to pay for my pie or earn it. All I needed to do was enjoy the slice of delicious pie before me.
When we consider God to be our portion, the same God who is our friend, our Sovereign authority, our wisdom and guide, we can be assured our portion will always satisfy and be enough. The Psalmist reminds us we have God as our portion forever. The author of Lamentations wrapped up God’s faithful love, never-ending mercies, and great faithfulness in the idea that God is our portion.
God Provides by Being our Portion
I know I get stuck in the idea of physical needs being met in the way I want most. However, God often provides by being the God we need in the everyday struggles of life. God as our portion is what we need more often than not.
Amid all the anxiety of leaving our church and moving several states away to begin a new adventure, God has been my portion of peace. In the middle of the night when my mind wouldn’t shut down, God was my portion of calm giving me the courage to face my fears. On those days when I’ve had to say good-bye to yet another friend or family member, God was my portion of comfort enabling me to manage my grief. When I had to put myself out there again, even when inside I felt so unsure of myself, God was my portion of confidence nudging me to step out in bold faith.
I am grateful Jesus is my friend who stands with me, listens to me, drinks coffee with me, and enjoys a good prank. I find great comfort in the truth that God is the Sovereign King, the creator and sustainer of all things. I am thankful God gives His Spirit to guide me and counsel me so that I live within His wisdom. And I am overwhelmed with joy over the fact that God is my provider and my portion. He alone satisfies; He alone is always enough.
Smorgasbord Photo by Saile Ilyas on Unsplash
Thank you for your words, reminds me to bloom where I am planted. I am not good with change but I need to listen to the lord and keep close to Gods word through so many ways , bless you