"Our Daily Bread" Series

Back in Bible times bread was a whole-grain staple of life. It was baked fresh every day and was an essential part of life. Jesus was instructing His disciples to ask God for what they needed to live for the day. Jesus also taught that we do not live by bread alone, but by the words of life found in Scripture.

Bread is a symbol for everything necessary for life and well-being-to include food, good health, shelter, clothing, a means of income, peace, safety, friends and family. The book of Proverbs gives the right perspective: "Lord, give me neither poverty nor riches; give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, ’Who is the Lord?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy Name." This prayer doesn’t imply that we’ll have all we want, but that we will have all that we need.

Some people are trying to make their own daily bread. They figure that if they make enough money they’ll be happy. We can spend our whole lives striving for material prosperity and miss what life is really all about. A high school friend of mine asked his parents if they could say grace at dinner and his father said, "I earn my money; I’m the one who puts food on this table, not God." This dad didn’t see the Source of his provision. Food on the table is not by our own efforts. In Deuteronomy we’re reminded, "It is God who gives you power to get wealth" (8:18). All the resources at our disposal are gifts from Above.

The Jewish Ark of the Covenant contained three items: the Ten Commandments-the actual stone tablets given to Moses, Aaron’s rod-a walking stick that miraculously budded, and a pot of manna-the bread God provided each morning during the long, wilderness wandering. It’s interesting that God made the condition that the people would gather the manna and consume it that day. If they tried to meet tomorrow’s needs on their own by putting some in storage, it would rot, except the day before the Sabbath rest. God was making it necessary for them to rely on Him day-by-day. Later God also provided quail. In Deuteronomy we’re told, "He did this to humble you…so you would never think that it was your own strength and energy that made you prosperous" (8:17).

We’re praying for "our" daily bread. There’s no room for selfishness here. It’s been said that "bread for myself is a physical need; bread for others is a spiritual matter." There is enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed. Jesus said that when we offer bread to others, we are in effect doing it to Him (Matthew 25:40).

A man in Dallas Texas heard about a family that needed food. He began to pray, asking God to provide for these needy people, then he paused and said, "Never mind, Lord-I’ll take care of this myself." We pass the bread to the rest of the table. This is an appropriate time to urge you to support our Food Pantry!

Along with generosity comes contentment. Some people are never satisfied with what they have. Paul states in Philippians, "I’ve learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing and with abundance. I’ve learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty; with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ Who gives me the strength I need" (4:11-13). Paul tells Timothy, "If we have food and clothing, let us be content with that" (I Tim 6:8).