Let’s read Psalm 34:9-10 from the New King James Version: “Oh, FEAR the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who FEAR Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who SEEK the LORD shall not lack any GOOD THING.” In these verses we have a promise from the Lord. The promise is given to those who FEAR HIM and SEEK HIM, in other words it is given to those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and have eternal life (John 1:12-13; 3:16) and are FEARING the Lord and SEEKING Him in every area of their life. We will look at some verses in a minute which speak of that. The PROMISE says they “shall not lack any good thing.” We shall also consider exactly what a “good thing” is according to God’s definition in the Scriptures.

Now let’s read some verses which will teach us what it means to “seek the Lord” and what is meant by God promising us that we won’t “lack any good thing.” Matthew 6:25, 32-33 say, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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…For after all THESE THINGS the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you NEED ALL THESE THINGS. But seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added to you.” Many people in the world today are focused on “material things,” even the basic “necessities of life” (food, drink, clothing). Because they are occupied with “these things” they worry about them. Verse 32 teaches us that most people are so anxious about tomorrow and whether they will have enough food, drink, and clothing to survive, that they “seek to stock up on THESE THINGS.” Of course, their obsession with these “material things” also leads them to “stock up on other material possessions” which aren’t what we would call the “necessities of life.” They may think they need them too, but God only promises to “supply one’s NEEDS, not their GREEDS.” The Apostle Paul’s faith in God’s promise to supply our needs was brought out when writing to the saints at Philippi, “And my God shall SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). When the believer in Christ lays hold of this PROMISE, he will no longer “worry about them.” Instead, he will focus on God’s interests (the salvation of lost souls, the spiritual growth of other Christians, comforting those going through trials, and other things that are included in the words “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”). As he does, he will see that “all these things (food, drink, clothing, shelter, etc.) are added to him.” In other words, God will be providing these “good things” that are needed to sustain life here on earth.

It is sad that even some believers, who should be FEARING God and SEEKING Him and His interests here on earth, become occupied with “material things.” Paul had to address that issue earlier in Philippians 2:19-21, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all SEEK THEIR OWN, NOT THE THINGS WHICH ARE OF CHRIST JESUS.” How sad! There were those who were focused on THEIR OWN THINGS (the “cares of this life” as we saw in Matthew chapter 6) instead of “the things which are of Christ Jesus.” How is it with you, dear fellow-believer? Are you worried about “material things” that God tells you NOT to worry about? We should all be like Paul who could say, “For me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). His “sole interest in life” was “living for Christ and His interests” and thus he did not worry about the necessities of life which God would faithfully supply. He was like King David who could say (in Psalm 23:1), “The LORD is my shepherd; I SHALL NOT WANT!” The word “want” means “lack.” David knew he would never lack the “good things” that God knew he needed and which He would surely supply. I will close with Psalm 84:11, “The LORD will give grace and glory; NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD FROM THOSE WHO WALK UPRIGHTLY.”  (DO)  (721.1)