The verse Matthew 6:31 states “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’”. This verse assures us that God will provide for our basic needs of food, drink, and clothing. Yet, in the world today, millions of people lack these basic necessities. This begs the question – if God promises to provide for our needs, why do so many still go hungry, thirsty, and poorly clothed?
There are a few things to consider when examining this issue from a biblical perspective:
1. The fallen state of the world
When God first created the world, there was no hunger, thirst, or lack of clothing. The Bible tells us in Genesis 1-2 that the world was originally created as a perfect paradise, with abundant resources for all human needs. However, when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience (Genesis 3), it brought a curse upon creation. The ground itself was cursed to bring forth thorns and thistles, making provision of food more difficult (Genesis 3:17-19). Sickness, natural disasters, wars, and other effects of the Fall have contributed to poverty, lack of resources, and famine throughout history.
So, the basic reason some lack basic necessities is that we live in a fallen, imperfect world tainted by sin. God’s original perfect plan for providing for all human needs was disrupted by human disobedience.
2. The greed and injustice of human systems
While the Fall and original sin created a world with less than perfect provision for human needs, the Bible makes it clear that there is still enough food, water, and resources in the world for everyone’s needs to be met (Psalm 24:1, 1 Timothy 6:17). The problem is often unjust distribution of resources, greed, waste, oppression, and broken economic systems that prevent equal access to necessities.
For example, Proverbs 22:16 and James 5:1-6 speak against those who gain wealth by oppressing the poor. When some live in extravagant excess while neglecting the needy in their midst, the biblical command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31) is being violated. So the problem is often less about total resources available, and more about various human injustices that prevent fair distribution and sharing of resources.
3. Natural disasters and calamities
While greed and oppression are often large contributors to lack of basic necessities, natural events and calamities can also play a major role. Droughts, famines, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters can devastate crops, destroy infrastructure, disrupt access to clean water, and ravage populations’ sources of food, water, and clothing. In these cases, lack of necessities is often simply due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time – the victims of natural disaster.
4. Lack of knowledge and technology
In many less developed regions of the world, lack of basic necessities stems largely from lack of knowledge, lack of infrastructure, and lack of access to technology. Agricultural practices that could increase crop yields may be unknown. Wells and irrigation systems that could provide clean water may not exist in a certain location. Roads and transportation that could deliver resources may not have been built. While greed and oppression are huge factors in some regions, in others, it comes down to a simple lack of knowledge, infrastructure, and basic technology that could help provide the necessities of life.
5. Spiritual warfare
The Bible also indicates that behind the human and natural causes of suffering, there are spiritual forces of evil at work. 1 Peter 5:8 warns that the devil seeks to “devour” believers, and Revelation 12:12 says “the devil has come down to you in great wrath.” While human sin, greed, and natural disasters all play a role, Christians understand that this is part of an overarching spiritual battle between God’s Kingdom and the powers of darkness seeking to destroy God’s creation.
6. God’s provision is spiritual as well as physical
A key understanding from Scripture is that God does not always promise to meet our physical needs or make us materially comfortable and prosperous. He ultimately desires to meet our spiritual needs even more than our physical ones. As Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” So every human’s deepest need is spiritual redemption, not material possessions.
God allows suffering and trials like hunger in this fallen world, using them to humble us, teach us to depend on Him, and make us seek eternal spiritual treasures rather than only earthly comforts (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, James 1:2-4). So His promise is not necessarily to give us full stomachs, but to strengthen our faith in Him.
7. God’s timing is not always our timing
Scripture gives many examples of God providing for needs miraculously, such as manna from heaven for the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16). However, God often does not work according to our preferred timing. As Isaiah 55:8 states, God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. So God’s provision is sometimes delayed by days, years, or even decades from the time we expect or hope for it.
This does not mean He has forgotten us or is uncaring. But in His wisdom and timing, which is often different than ours, He works all things out for our long-term spiritual good (Romans 8:28). What we perceive as unmet needs are oftentimes part of God’s divine plan and timing to grow our faith and refine our character.
8. This world is not our ultimate home
Scripture compares earthly life to temporarily living in a foreign land (Hebrews 11:13-16). As 1 Peter 2:11 states, believers are “sojourners and exiles” on this earth. Our true citizenship and home is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). So no matter how intense earthly hardships become, they are only temporary compared to our eternal reward for those who trust in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
The struggles of this life cause us to look forward to Heaven, where God promises to wipe away every tear and make all things new (Revelation 21:1-4). So God ultimately uses temporary earthly affliction to direct our eyes toward the perfection that awaits all believers in eternity.
9. God promises to avenge injustice
The Bible consistently condemns oppression of the poor and needy, and also promises that God will avenge all wrongdoing. Deuteronomy 10:17-18 says God “executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner.” In God’s time, justice will certainly prevail upon oppressors.
Likewise, believers can take comfort that any wrongful suffering they endure will be compensated and made right in God’s time (Luke 18:7-8). No matter how bleak circumstances on earth appear, God’s ultimate justice and recompense provide hope.
10. Believers should help meet others’ needs
While God allows suffering and need in this fallen world for reasons we cannot fully understand, Scripture also commands us as believers to show compassion and help meet each others’ needs whenever we can. 1 John 3:17 states, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” We are not to be hardened toward those in desperate straits.
The early church set an example of providing for fellow believers who lacked basic necessities like food and clothing (Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:32-25). So while God may allow hardship to accomplish divine purposes, we must still do what we can to relieve suffering – working to be His hands and feet on earth (James 2:14-17).
Conclusion
In summary, the Bible acknowledges that many in the fallen world lack basic necessities like food, water, and clothing. Though God promises to provide for His children’s needs, numerous complex factors may result in hardship and want. These include the fallen state of the world, human greed and oppression, natural disasters, lack of infrastructure in certain regions, spiritual warfare, and God’s higher purpose of growing faith rather than always providing earthly comfort.
Yet God offers spiritual provision that sustains eternally. He works ultimately for our redemption and an eternal home in Heaven where no one will hunger or thirst again. As believers, we can trust His divine purposes in hardship, knowing He will bring justice, and also do our part to generously care for those in need.