We all realise more and more that Covid-19 is no longer just about a dangerous virus, but about a deep recession too, with businesses going under and a financial impact on each and every one of us! The question in many a heart is: Can Covid-19 take the bread from my table? For every god-fearing and righteous person, the answer will be NO!
For in Psalm 37:25, David writes, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”. This was David’s experience, and this is what I have experienced in all my life too. And I have seen it in the lives of many who live a righteous life!
If we trust God, and take refuge with Him, then we can answer the question, “How will we cope?” with what is written in Psalm 46:1, that God is always present in the midst of all our trials, and that He is experienced to help in trouble. Therefore, we should never fear, even if “the earth should change and the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas.” (V.2.)
I firmly believe what is written in Matt.6:31-33, where Jesus Himself tells us that we should not worry about what we will eat and what we will wear. “For your heavenly Father knows that we need these things,” He said. But then He comes with the condition: “But first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Despite a recession and job losses, we will experience that God provides all the things we need, if only we fulfil this condition!
I found the answer what it means to seek the kingdom of God in Matt.7:22. Here Jesus says that when we do the will of His Father, then we enter into His kingdom! In this kingdom God Himself is our protector! And the will of the Father is clearly written in the Bible. I just have to live according to what is written there. For example: As it is written that I have to forgive the wrongs that others have done to me, then I should just do it! Then I find more of God’s kingdom and experience His care and protection!
And to seek God’s righteousness, for me simply means that I have to do what is right in the eyes of God! It is a gross unrighteousness not to believe and to doubt what God Himself has said! If He has said that He will take care of me if I seek His kingdom and His righteousness first, then I must believe it just as it is written! And never doubt it!
With the recession, both employer and employee are struggling to keep ‘afloat’. If I am a righteous employer, I’ll do my very best to care for my employees. That means that I have to make sacrifices. And if I am an employee, it is only righteousness for me to bring my part also, to do whatever I can to help and make sacrifices too. If I am lazy and expect my employer to bring all the sacrifices, and that he should bear all the responsibility for my well-being, while I take life easy and just demand “my right”, that would be unrighteous! Then I can’t expect God to fulfil His side of the promise, which is to take care of me, because I am not fulfilling His conditions. And if I, whether I am the employer or the employee, should lie and cheat and tell soppy stories to beg and get as much as possible for myself, then I will never experience how God cares for the righteous.
We have to cast all unrighteousness out of our lives, then we’ll experience God’s tremendous care in this time! He cares in detail, that is why Jesus said, “Even all your hairs are counted”! Every word that He said in the Bible is 100% true! This is what I have experienced in my own life.
Sandanassamy
Thank you brother.
We like to follow your blog .
Its extremely good and faith strengthing Words.
God bless this blog and also you
Greetings
Jaisely and Victor Sandanassamy
Cobus van Niekerk
Someone once said: “Danger is real, but fear is a choice”
What happens around us or to us is real, but keeping our vision on Him (believing Him, obeying Him, serving Him) is a choice. We will experience His care and goodness should we trust Him in the midst of trials. This care from God will not necessarily be a copy of my understanding of “care” but it will always be the right care for me! Just like Peter when he walked on the water towards Jesus we too can walk while ‘looking at Him’. The moment we become busy with the circumstances, we will become overpowered and will sink into it! Mat.14:25-31.
Hans
Inam very thankful for this article, and I am gonna take it to heart and believe the scriptures written there. I am thankful for the times I live in, and I believe all of it is from God to show me what still clings to me. I will be one that brings my part and sacrifices in this time, and never talk negative or become worried and anxious. Thanks for the reminder to do this in the article.
Claude Kue Kamdem
I agree 100% to what is written here. I’ve also experienced in my own life that God takes care even in small details in my daily circumstancies. God’s word is 100% true.
Byamugisha Brenda
Considering the circumstances, the message is timely. I am grateful to God because my trust is in only Him, and therefore we can’t be shaken by the prevailing circumstances. We have a hope in Him as long as we do His will. Then his promises for us a very clear.
George Oketch
Extremely True, if I believe God’s word and take it the way it’s written, then He will fulfill it in my life. God told the Israelites to walk righteously before Him and He will be with them. And indeed He did that. The eyes of the Lord is moving all over the world in order to find one righteous person in whom He can bestow His power. This God does irrespective of the prevailing situation. I praise God for this article.
Gareth
Our circumstances are never the problem only our doubt
Edison Agaba
Am too much thankful for this article because it has taught me how I can gain the eternal life by seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, and I can only come to that by being humble and open in all things I do and loving everyone, because when Jesus our dear master was on this very earth, He use to win everything by “Love”. So I should do the same to to overcome all evil things. May God bless you for this wonderful article.
Ronald Omwenga
Thanks for faith strengthening message ..we can follow along God’s word and live with it and depend on as it’s without doubt and have rest in our souls for Him Jesus gives peace which the world doesn’t know…In this stormy weather of Corona I want to take refuge in Him and rest my faith in Him as He rested on the boat when the disciples were afraid of storm. Gods word is 100% true if i fulfill the conditions He will do His .
“And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him,“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” en He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4:37-41
Thobias Silas
Doubting brings laziness, then worries and such kind of chain only lead to sin. But here exhortation is to first seek Kingdom then all things we need will be given to us. I want thank God for this.
Gibson Mzumazi
I am extremely thankful for this article, and it really becomes clear to me that this is at the right time. That God has meant all of His words about His rewards to someone whom is seeking His kingdom and live righteous life.
I never thought about how I am managing to survive on this time, when everything financially is going down and everyone fear to start new projects to build, in the season we are in. But God is perfect and is doing great things for His righteous people, I can testify of this.
It is my prayer that may God give me more light of about myself that can go deep with my intention on Him. “Fear not, fear not” is the repeated word from God and I will go for this by faith!
George O.
God truly knows how to protect His people and Covid-19 cannot take away food from our table. All we need to do is to do His will and trust Him in faith to provide for us in our areas of work or business.
Eleazar Mkundika
Thank you dear brother for the powerful and faith-strengthening words. We are going through difficult times as well as exciting one where we experience and learn the faithfulness of God. These times are working for our good!! What has gripped me so powerfully is that l need to cast out all unrighteousness in my life if l am to experience the goodness of the Lord. This is a task before me which l need to do diligently by the help of the Spirit.
Gulnaz Kamalova
Thank you very much for this article, it’s a good reminder that we first have to seek righteousness. And at this quarantine time, I still work, and even more than before quarantine, but I get paid half as much. And at first it seemed incredibly unfair. But then I really decided for myself that first of all I have to do all righteously, and if God placed me in such situation that I have to work, but i be paid less, I will still do my work as good as I can, and I can only be thankful that I have a job, because so many simply lost it ..And I also thought about those people who have been living in poverty for a long time here in Russia, and in ordinary life no one helps them. But as soon as quarantine began, the state decided to provide food to people, and all families with children will also receive good payments for every child. It looks as if it is a pause and God’s grace over those who needed and suffered for a long time. And I even thought about my parents, they did not live in poverty, but it was always difficult to pay the bills and sometimes they had to borrow, and they always worked very hard so that my sister and I could have everything like other children, and we didn’t feel that we don’t have something. And now, during quarantine, my mom says that there was no better and more stable time in the family’s economy, and they continue to work and all financial problems began to be resolved and it becomes easier to breathe. And I can only rejoice, because through all these things, I experience again and again how God is righteous and kind toward us.
Killion Wasonga
Shalom bro’
Thanks for the beautiful spiritual teaching note. It’s wonderful with exhorting and edifying scriptures.
I stand in agreement with you that Corona pandemic cannot take bread off our table and we should not fear anything because God (YHWH) Almighty is in control of both the situation and our lives, as we can read from Psalms 91: 3-7; “He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from deadly diseases.
He will cover with His wings; you will be safe in His care; His faithfulness will protect you and defend you.
You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight.
A thousand may fall dead beside you, ten thousand all round you, but you will not be harmed.”
Otherwise, receive my warm greetings from Mwanza, Tanzania.
Clive Mandiwona
Amen! Indeed, thank You for the sound words of Exhortation …. whilst we obediently seek His Kingdom and Righteousness, He provides for our every need. Just as Noah Obeyed and sought God’s Will, and he survived the floods and the hunger. The Covid-19 floods can never take away bread from the sons and daughters of the Kingdom of God !!!
Lilly Koen
He provided meat and bread to Elijah….. in isolation…. by sending a crow to deliver!!! Faithful Father in Heaven !
Felicite Cheffo
thank you dear brother for the encouragement, I want to live a life just before God. God is always present in the midst of all our trials, I have experienced this in my trials all this time and I want to trust myself entirely in God, to become really an instrument in his hand, finished injustice, fear, requirement, the me, all this does not honor God, I want to discover the kingdom of God in all that I do. Amen
Arun
This is so encouraging to read this. A real help and comfort to practical life. Thank you so much dear brother for this write up
Paul Mathew
Amen and very timely for me :). God be praised
Erick Moses.
I truly want to trust God in all situations of life for nothing is permanent in this world like His word. Our safety and protection is from above from He who is righteousness and full of grace unlike man.
Olav Harald Vårdal
I was really moved when reading these words of faith. We read the simplicity of faith which will save us from all sadness, depression and unrest. This pandemic is like strong winds and high waves that beat upon the house. Matt.7: 24. But when we remain unshakable in faith in these words we have read from Tielman, our house shall not be moved!! We have built our house on the rock, Jesus Christ. Praised be God, we will not be moved at all from rest, thankfulness, peace and joy! This power we receive by living faith!
Peluce Katusabe
Am extremely thankful for these exhorting and edifying words. I really want to walk by faith in the word from God’s mouth: “fear not”, because He is ever present in the midst of our trials and He’s experienced to help in trouble, wow!!
So wanna fix my vision on Him in my daily life.
Praised be God for this, Amen.
Grace Naare
I am very thankful and grateful, it really gave me courage strength to realize the Power of faith and confidence in God, I will believe and trust and have confidence that God is along in every situation of my life. And he will be with me every stage.
Daniel Onyango
Thank you for sharing and may God bless your time and days.
When believers fear and panic over COVID-19 and it’s social and economic impacts then truly our faith comes to question! Do I trust in God or trusting in my own abilities, my own thoughts and my own securities to weather the pandemic? Then what we read in Psalms 91:1-15 could just become another reading. I have realized that fear breeds in us difficulties as many see it, but when I trust in God then every hard time is an opportunity for me to grow further my faith, trust and hope in Him.
Jesus said that if I seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all things shall be added unto me. It’s not my business to be worried and panic over the pandemic and any other hardships and challenges we encounter in life BUT my business is always to seek after righteousness and God’s kingdom irrespective of what happens. But even if “something bad” happens to me, I must continue keeping the faith to lay hold onto my calling. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:17. I pray that I am consumed always of seeking the kingdom of God!
Benard Otiso
This indeed is a tremendous opportunity to hear such a wonderful exhortation. Absolutely, there is nothing that can separate us who are obedient, humble, and faithful to our Master from His perfect love to us. Once again as Tielman wrote about David, from his youth until now he is old, he has never seen where the righteous man being forsaken by God nor his children begging for bread. This is the 100% true God we serve. I am so thankful for such a wonderful exhortation.