The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 (ESV)
“The words shall not want, as applied to the psalmist, would embrace everything that could be a proper object of desire, whether temporal or spiritual; whether pertaining to the body or the soul; whether having reference to time or to eternity. There is no reason for supposing that David limited this to his temporal necessities, or to the present life, but the idea manifestly is that God would provide all that was needful for him always.” Barnes’ Notes on the Old Testament.
Jesus promised, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:25-33 ESV)
Will there ever be time when we are naked and hungry or homeless? It is possible, especially for the sake of the gospel. The Apostle Paul suffered all of those at one time or another. He wrote, Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea . . . in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2 Corinthians 11:23-25, 27 ESV) In Paul’s economy he suffered no lack because he was strengthened by the Self-Existent, Eternal God.
We will never lack whatever we need to accomplish what God is calling us to do. If we are obedient to his calling (seeking first his righteousness), the shepherd who tends us will supply all we need.
Are you thankful for what the Good Shepherd provides?
Scriptures for meditation:
Psalm 34:9-10
Mark 10:29-30
Philippians 4:12-13