Trusting God on a Ramen Budget

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” - Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)

This passage has been an anchor to my life for as long as I can remember. Because I worry at such a high frequency, it sometimes becomes like the oxygen I depend on to live. Worrying comes naturally to most of us. It’s like a constant reminder of what we can and can’t control in our lives. All through college I worked two jobs. I remember receiving my first paycheck and beaming at the thought of all of the financial possibilities. I had no budget, no problems! This was very short-lived. I quickly realized that my car, my food, my phone, my Netflix subscription, my teeth, my health all seemed to cost money—every month! I was realizing that as my expenses were growing, my money was dwindling and my anxiety was rising. I could barely afford a pack of ramen noodles, and God forbid something stops working or someone starts coughing. I love this verse because it reminds us of what matters the most.

Seek FIRST, the kingdom of God above all else! This means your prayer life takes precedence over your paycheck. The next part of this verse I usually skim over but it's so powerful, it says, “...and live righteously.” Notice it doesn’t say “...and live recklessly or spend impulsively.” There is a part that we play! Scripture urges us to stay faithful in the small things (Luke 16:10). In the world we live in, it’s common to chase the career that will pay the bills and get caught up in the hustle of being our own provider. But this perspective has some blind spots. The truth is, you can’t work enough hours, create enough income or invest in enough stocks to substitute what God says is most important—seeing Him as your source. When we labor and spin, convinced that we can create the best life for ourselves only if we could just make some more money, we’ve already missed it. Money is a currency that appears to guarantee the best life while faith is the currency that opens our lives up to God. Through the principles of His Word, we can grow in wisdom, discipline, and financial stewardship that creates the most fulfilling life we could ever imagine. When we focus on the things that matter to God, we will soon realize that He’s already provided for the things that matter to us. This is why verse 32 says (my paraphrase) “people who don’t see God as their ultimate provider will worry themselves to death trying to figure out how to keep their lives afloat apart from Him.” 

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” - Matthew 6:25-26 (NLT)

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

When I first read these verses, I translated them this way, “God is RICH and will share His wealth with me because I'm His child.” I thought to myself, “If God has got money, then why am I so broke?” Why doesn’t He put it on someone’s heart to give me one million dollars?” Little did I know, it wasn’t my lack of resources that was my problem, it was my lack of faith. If I have a high-paying job, do I no longer have a great need for a provider? Notice the writer doesn’t say, “God has riches” (as in American dollars), it says, “He has all you need” (included but not limited to financial provisions). So the bad news is that we don’t have a bank account in Heaven, but the good news is that we don’t need one! We have a good Father who knows what we need. So how can we trust God when we only make a little? Trust Him with the little you make and He’ll make the most of it! 

Anyone can trust God in the area of their finances by following these 3 principles:

• Stay faithful to God with what you have
• Keep trusting God for what you need 
• Start believing God for what you desire

More In God We Trust? resources can be found here.