Our Substance Blessed
God's blessing on our provisions is a promise that He will provide for our needs and give us the strength and wisdom to manage our resources wisely.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that obedience to God brings blessings upon our daily provisions, whether they are immediate needs or stored resources. He illustrates that even a modest supply, like a hand-basket, is sufficient when blessed by God, as seen in the Israelites' experience with daily manna. Spurgeon warns that while having a store can bring care and anxiety, it is essential to seek God's blessing to prevent material possessions from becoming idols. He prays for the ability to use our resources for God's glory and to maintain a proper perspective on worldly goods.
Text
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. (Deuteronomy 28:5)
Obedience brings a blessing on all the provisions which our industry earns for us. That which comes in and goes out at once, like fruit in the basket which is for immediate use, shall be blest; and that which is laid by with us for a longer season shall equally receive a blessing. Perhaps ours is a hand-basket portion. We have a little for breakfast and a scanty bite for dinner in a basket when we go out to do our work in the morning. This is well, for the blessing of God is promised to the basket. If we live born hand to mouth, getting each day's supply in the day, we are as well off as Israel; for when the Lord entertained His favored people He only gave them a day's manna at a time. What more did they need? What more do we need?
But if we have a store, how much we need the Lord to bless it! For there is the care of getting, the care of keeping, the care of managing, the care of using; and, unless the Lord bless it, these cares will eat into our hearts till our goods become our gods and our cares prove cankers.
O Lord, bless our substance. Enable us to use it for Thy glory, Help us to keep worldly things in their proper places, and never may our savings endanger the saving of our souls.
Sermon Outline
- Introduction
- The hand-basket portion
- The store and the need for God's blessing
- A prayer for God's blessing on our substance
- Using our substance for God's glory
- Keeping worldly things in their proper places
Key Quotes
“What more did they need? What more do we need?” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Unless the Lord bless it, these cares will eat into our hearts till our goods become our gods and our cares prove cankers.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should trust in God's daily provision and not worry about the future or become attached to material possessions.
- We should use our resources to help others, support the church, and spread the gospel.
- We should keep worldly things in their proper places and not let them become our gods.