What is meant by saying "God is my portion"?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In the Old Testament, the word “portion” referred to land or inheritance. The tribes of Israel, except for the Levites, received a portion of the Promised Land. The Levites were the priests and had a special relationship with the Lord. So, rather than land, He gave them Himself. That is, the Lord was their portion. Over time, this concept grew into a spiritual expression of satisfaction and dependence on God. To say “God is my portion” means that He is our reward, inheritance, and provider. It’s a declaration of faith that even if earthly blessings are lost, God is still enough. The phrase is often found in the midst of affliction or loss and as a statement of hope when everything else is gone. This expression also affirms that what we truly need is not a change in circumstances, but the presence of God Himself. If He is ours, we lack nothing essential. It shifts our focus from temporary provision to our eternal relationship.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The concept of “portion” in the Old Testament refers to how God allocated land to the Israelites. All of the tribes except the Levites were given a portion (an inheritance) of the Promised Land. Unlike the rest of the tribes, the Levites were not given a portion of the land because they had a special relationship with God (Numbers 18:20). Instead of land, the Levites received something greater—the Lord was their portion, meaning they had the privilege of being in a direct relationship with Him, serving Him on behalf of the rest of the Israelites. That concept sets the background for the use of the phrase in the rest of the Old Testament.
• In Lamentations 3:24, Jeremiah cried, “The LORD is my portion,” to remind himself of God’s goodness. The context of that statement was the fall of Jerusalem, the temple’s destruction, and the exiled people of Israel. Even in the face of all that loss and devastation, Jeremiah declared that God alone was his inheritance and hope.
• Psalm 73 reflects a similar truth. After wrestling with the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous, Asaph concludes, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25–26). Everything else might fail—but the greatest thing, God, remains.
• David wrote, “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot” (Psalm 16:5). Though David was a king, his true inheritance was not his throne or wealth but the Lord Himself.
• The author of Psalm 119 echoes this. “The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words” (Psalm 119:57). The psalmist is saying that God’s favor (Psalm 119:58) is more valuable than the temptations of sin (Psalm 119:59).
• Therefore, a “portion” in the Old Testament was an allocation of inheritance. To call the Lord one’s portion was to say they had the greatest inheritance of all.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• While the phrase, “God is my portion,” is not found in the New Testament, the idea that God is of “surpassing value” is woven throughout. Paul writes in Philippians 3:8, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Before being saved, Paul had reached a high status within the Jewish community—likely wealthy, and certainly envied (Philippians 3:4–6). However, he considered all of that earthy gain as worthless compared to knowing Christ. In that sense, God was His portion.
• Paul understood that believers are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). Being an heir means that we share Christ’s inheritance, which includes having God as our portion.
• Peter describes the future inheritance. It is “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). The portion we await is secure. The portion likely includes something physical because Peter is pointing forward to the renewed heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:13). However, it also includes the spiritual blessing of living with God (Revelation 21:3); that is, God is our portion.
• Jesus also reinforced that the believers’ inheritance is in the future when He said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). If God is our portion, then our heart belongs to Him, not to temporary wealth or security in this life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

To say “God is my portion” is a declaration of contentment and faith. It reminds us that our true inheritance is not found in earthly possessions, health, or success. Instead, our portion is God Himself. He is the one who sustains us, satisfies us, and secures our future.

This truth should stabilize us in times of loss. When relationships break, finances collapse, or health fails, we can still say with confidence, “The LORD is my portion.” He has not changed. He has not left us. He, alone, is enough.

Because of this, let us check our priorities. Instead of chasing what the world values—recognition, wealth, comfort—we need to treasure God’s presence and Word. If He is our portion, then we are rich, even if we own nothing else (Mark 8:37–37).

Let this truth fuel obedience and endurance. When God is our portion, we do not need to panic when things go wrong. We wait on Him (Lamentations 3:24), obey Him (Psalm 119:57), and trust Him to provide all we truly need (Philippians 4:19). We do not follow Him because of what He gives us. Instead, we follow Him because He is our portion.

UNDERSTAND

• God is our ultimate inheritance and reward—not what He gives, but God Himself.
• Even when things are difficult, God's presence remains enough as our portion of what we need.
• God as our portion redirects our desires from temporary things to eternal.

REFLECT

• How do you respond when the things you rely on are taken away, and how does that reveal what you consider your true portion?
• In what areas of your life are you tempted to find satisfaction apart from God, and what would it mean to shift your focus toward Him instead?
• How has your understanding of God as your inheritance shaped the way you view your present struggles or future hopes?

ENGAGE

• What does it mean in practical terms to live as if God is our portion, and how can we encourage one another to do this?
• How do examples from Scripture illustrate the idea of treasuring God above all else?
• In a culture that measures worth by possessions and success, how can the truth that “God is our portion” reframe our values and daily choices?