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7 Sermon Illustrations on Provision

7 illustrations

Provision in Christian preaching highlights God's faithful and timely care for His people, supplying both physical needs and spiritual blessings. Illustrations often draw on images of nature's bounty, a child's dependence, and unexpected supplies during journeys, emphasizing God's abundant goodness and perfect timing (Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:26).

Children, God's Care for

God always provides for every child He brings into the world.

There is a story of a rich woman, that, being at a poor woman's labor, the child being new-born, and nothing to be had for its comfort, "See!" said she, without any pity or compassion, "here is the mouth, but where is the meat?" Not long after, the same rich woman was delivered of a dead child, when another woman, present at her labor, said, "See! here is meat enough, but where is the mouth?" Let none grudge or repine at their issue, be it ever so numerous nor grumble at the greatness of their charge. God never sent a mouth but he sends meat for that mouth. He can as well feed many as few, make the poor man's penny go as far as the rich man's pound. He is the great house keeper, that giveth every living thing meat in due season; and those little ones that bear his image are by no means excluded. Spencer

God, Riches of

God's abundant provision for nature assures His care for obedient believers.

God is so rich, that he can put more of what is beautiful upon a single lily or tulip than the great King Solomon could put on all his clothing. The hoarse, homely peacock carries more that is beautiful upon his tail than the richest king could ever show. And even tho poor butterfly, which is to live but a few hours, has a more glorious dress than the proudest, richest man that ever lived. God can dress this poor worm up so, because he is rich. If, then, he can take such care of the lilies, the birds, and insects, and make them more beautiful than man can ever be, will he not take care of us, if we obey him? Suppose you had a rich father, so rich, that he had a hogshead full of gold, and a great barn full of silver: do you think, that, if you were to be a good child, he would ever refuse to take care of you? But God has more gold and silver laid up in the ground, which men have not yet dug up, than would make a mountain; it may be, thousands of mountains. Can he not take care of you? Suppose your father had more oxen and horses and cattle than you could count over in a day, or in a week: would he not be able to take care of his child, and give him every thing he needs? Yes. But God has "cattle upon ten thousand hills;" and "every beast of the forest" is his, and his are "all the fowls of the air." Can he not give you food from all these cattle, and clothe you and give you beds from the feathers of all these fowls? Yes: he is able to do it all. Suppose your father was so rich, that he had ten thousand men to work for him every day, al at work, and all paid to their mind, and all happy in working for him: would you have any fears that he could not take care of you and do you good? But God has more servants than these: he has all the good people on earth in his employment, and all the angels in heaven. He pays them all. And, if you need any thing, he can send one, or a million, of these his servants to you, to help you.

— Dr. J. Todd

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster god

Goodness Of God, Shown

God’s goodness is shown in providing life-sustaining water even in barren places.

The Island of Fierro is one of the largest in the Canary group; and it has received its name on account of its iron-bound soil, through which no river or stream flows. It has also but very few wells, and these not very good. In the midst of the island there grows a tree, the leaves of which are long and narrow, and continue in constant verdure winter and summer; and the branches are covered with a cloud which is never dispelled, but, resolving itself into a moisture, causes to fall from its leaves a very clear water in such abundance, that cisterns placed at its foot to receive it are never empty.

Need, Special

God providentially provides exactly what is needed at the right moment.

"In the first year of my marriage," relates a pious German, "I had, one day, not a farthing in the house, when my wife came, and asked me for a thaler to pay the weaver, who was to bring her some cloth home in the evening. There was not a person in the village of whom we could borrow money; and my wife burst into tears. I tried to comfort her by telling her that our heavenly Father knew what we needed, and that perhaps the bad weather might prevent the weaver from coming that day. I commended the matter to the Lord; for I saw no means of human help. In the evening, my wife hastily entered the room, and said, "The weaver is here!" I was just taking down a book from the shelf above me, when, at the very moment, a piece of money rolled out of it, and fell rattling on the table. My wife and I stood motionless: we felt distinctly the presence of God, who so exactly knew what we needed, and bestowed it upon us at the very moment when we required it." The money had been put in the book some time before, been forgotten, and was thus providentially discovered in the time of need.

Need, Supplied

Unexpected provision comes as a timely encouragement on a journey of need.

Dr. Harris, while a junior in college, being in great want of money, set out on a walk from Cambridge to Boston. On the way, he cut a walking-stick, and, after going a short distance, perceived that something had become attached to the end of it. It proved to be a gold ring with the motto "God speed thee, friend." Hawthorne.

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster

Righteousness, Provision of

A Christian's spiritual journey expenses are fully provided for by the Lord at every stage.

As when a child travels in his father's company all is paid for, but the father himself carries the purse; so the expenses of a Christian's warfare and journey to heaven are paid for and discharged for him by the Lord in every stage and condition. Gurnall.

The Clerk'S Dying Regret

A dying clerk finds peace knowing his family will be provided for.

A young man, who was clerk to Mr. Cuthbert, a merchant in the East Indies, being taken very ill, became unusually thoughtful and melancholy. Mr. Cuthbert inquired the cause of his uncursiness. The young man replied, that he was not afraid to die; but he had a mother, and two sisters, in England, to whom he had been accustomed to send £100 every year; and his only regret at dying, was, that they would be left destitute. Mr. Cuthbert begged him to make his mind perfectly easy on that account, as he would take care of his mother and sisters. He was as good as his word, for he instantly went to his attorney, and executed a deed, granting an annuity of £100 a year, in favor of the mother and her two daughters, during their joint lives; and with the benefit of survivorship. He then sent the bond to his clerk, who, clasping it in his hands, exclaimed, "Now I can die in peace; my mother and sisters are saved;" and almost instantly expired.

from Cyclopaedia of Moral and Religious Anecdotes · Kazlitt Arvine faithfulness

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