Depend on God, Not on Your Friends and Family

Yesterday on my Facebook page, Aunty Edith, we discussed how best to react if you have demanding and ungrateful relatives who see you as their source of livelihood (See screenshots below). Today, I want us to discuss how to conduct yourself if you’re related to or you’re friends with a rich person.

The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all our burdens on the Lord for He cares for us. It does not say to lay our burdens on our rich uncle or wealthy friend.

No matter how rich you think they are, unlike God, your friends and relatives have limited resources. Note that it’s often your perception that makes you believe they are rich. In other words, some people are not actually as rich as they appear. They may live in a huge house and drive a luxurious car but their debt portfolio will scare you if you see it.

Even if they are actually affluent, they have lots of other things to do with their money besides taking care of you and your dependents. They have their immediate family to cater for, workers to pay, investments to make or maintain, etc.

In addition, every human being has limited patience, unlike Almighty God. How many times do you think an individual can help you before he or she becomes exasperated?

These are the reasons you should change your mind-set. Tell yourself that no one is responsible for your welfare but yourself and God.

When you have this understanding, you will spend the time you use to ingratiate yourself with rich folks around you hoping for handouts to build a closer relationship with God.

This is what I teach young people around me. No one owes you the provision of all your needs, not even your parents. People can only go so far in helping you. Don’t expect anyone to kill himself for you. The One whose job it was to die for you has already done that. Spend your time loving and appreciating Him and He will take care of you without the embarrassment of begging and harassing others.

Whenever you have a need, talk to God first through His son, Jesus Christ. He is your Jehovah Jireh. He can show you what to do to meet your need. If He wishes to use someone to help you, let Him choose whom He wills to use. The Bible tells us that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). He can use a total stranger to help you and He can use a variety of people to help you at different times. What matters is that you will surely get where He wants you to get in life, with or without any person’s help.

Do not constitute yourself into a nuisance by making constant demands on particular people. And if anyone blesses you, no matter how small the gift, thank them very well and find opportunities to bless your benefactors too. Buy them small gifts that you can afford or bring fruits and farm produce if you have them. Don’t keep showing up at people’s houses empty-handed expecting to carry home Ghana-Must-Gos of blessings.

Make the Lord your Provider today. And seek Him with all your heart. He will surely bring you the blessings you desire when you need them.

Prayer:

Almighty Father, please draw me closer to You each day. Help me to see You as my Source and Sustenance, not anyone else.
And lift me up to be a giver to many around me, not just a receiver.

Amen in Jesus’ name.

Further Scriptural Reading:

Psalm 23: 1

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Matthew 6: 31-33

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

🌺

The scriptural quotations in this post are from the New International Version of the Holy Bible.

You may also like these related posts:

https://auntyedith.blogspot.com/2017/12/god-is-our-provider.html?m=1

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS