“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” – Matthew 25:40

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:1-4 (NIV)

We can easily get a view of God’s providence that focuses on our own needs, our requests to Him laden with what we lack.  Scripture is definitely clear that we can bring our requests to Him, even with boldness, but this is only one way for the Father to distribute His blessings among His children and the world they live in.  There is another way that God provides, but it is completely in our hands whether it is extended to others.

It comes down to us understanding that God not only provide for His children, but through His children.  You are guaranteed to be provided the opportunity, the gifting and the fruit to meet the needs of others in the passages above.  The only thing that gets in the way is free will.  In other words, God has made you into a gift for others through the sacrifice of His Son and the power of the Holy Spirit, but you have to choose to place the gift in the lives of others.  You have to be willing to step into the lives of needy souls.  You have to be willing to abide in God and be pruned by Him so you can bear good and plentiful fruit.

What an incredible privilege and joy it is to be used by God to provide for others; to be His hands and feet.  What a blessing to know that we can be a blessing to someone in need. Christ is making an appeal to His disciples, then and now, to make sure that the gifts He has given to us get out there and do what they were made to do.  Be a living, breathing extension of God’s providence to a needy world.  Be God’s gift to someone today. Be someone’s answer to prayer.