Our Daily Bread
In the fourth appeal of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray; “Give us this day our daily bread..” Today, we are going to take a close look at this particular appeal and see if we can gain a somewhat better understanding of just what we should be meaning when we are saying; give us this day our daily bread.
How many of you know what it is like to lose your job? It is probably one of the most traumatic experiences that people have to face. The loss of a job has even caused many to commit the most desperate act there is; suicide. What is about a job that when we lose it, we feel such a loss that some may even resort to something so drastic?
Well, to answer that we need to look and see just why a job is so important--what does it mean to us? For one thing, it affords us some sort of “security” in life. A good job reduces the need for us to worry about having enough money to eat and pay the bills. It also provides the money that we need to spend on the things that bring us pleasure. And it’s not just the money either--for many, a job also provides them with the feeling that they are needed-- that they are accomplishing something worthwhile. There is no doubt that those who have a good-paying regular job have something that most people desperately want. In fact, the only thing that separates us from some of the homeless people walking the streets today, is a “good job.”
Now to go along with a good job, we would love to have something called “job security” wouldn’t we? How secure is your job or career?....Probably not as secure as you might think. I’ve seen people that have been employed with the same company for many years lose their jobs almost overnight. And all of a sudden, they are not drawing that nice salary that they’re used to, they’re not living in that luxurious home, and driving that expensive car. In this life, we never know what might happen that can change everything in the blink of an eye.
The big thing now is the Y2K or the year Two Thousand. People are storing up all kinds of supplies and enough food to last for years because they think that there will be some great disaster beginning at 12 midnight on December 31. Well, the truth be known, some of those same people are not going to live to even see the year 2000 roll around. Imagine the chaos
they would feel if they knew that.
Brothers and sisters, what I am trying to say is that we live in a world full of uncertainties. We have no clue what might happen to us in the next year, month or even minute. It’s not too hard to understand why some people walk around scared to death wondering if perhaps this day will be their last. But you know what, that fear that so many people have is minimal
to non-existent in the lives of the followers of Jesus Christ.
With the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to depend on our Heavenly Father for our every need. We pray; “give us this day our daily bread..” In other words, we are looking to God for all that we will need to sustain us for how long? One day. There was a hit song that I know all of you are familiar with entitled “One Day at a Time.”
Beautiful song that had a great message--one that I believe has helped a lot of people through some very tough times. This song reminded so many that they were not alone in this world and that, no matter how bad things seemed, that their Lord was going to provide them with what they need to make it through one day at a time.
I used to watch that show Rescue 911, and on almost every episode someone was saved from certain death. And it seemed that they would always interview the people at the end of the segment and asked them how has it affected their lives to have come so close to death? An overwhelming percentage of them said that they looked at life a whole new way. They
said that they now thought of each new day as a gift from God. Many said that they now realized that life was too short to be worrying about different things that used to lay heavy on their minds--they, in effect, said that they were now living “for the day.” Is that how God wants us to live?
Well, if we go back to Exodus when God rained down manna on the children of Israel we will find that He didn’t do what perhaps most of us would have done--He didn’t drop down a whole month’s supply at once--no He gave them what was needed to sustain them for.. how long?-- one day. In fact, some tried to save a portion of the manna for the next day but the
Lord caused it rot and become filled with maggots--except for, of course, Friday’s ration. Even then God was trying to get His people to look to Him daily. From Exodus to Matthew, God is still the same. Turn with me to Matthew 6:25-34
“25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of
the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not
worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
In our last message we talked about seeking first God’s kingdom. We also realized that our King is not only our King but also our Provider. Our entire relationship with the Lord is based not on a weekly schedule but a DAILY schedule. And, as we just read, not only do we look to God to supply our needs, but every other creature on the face of the earth looks to God as well. Psalm 145:15 says; “ The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”
No, God has never promised us that we would all be wealthy or even comfortable, but He does provide us with what we need. As the Psalmist wrote in the 37th Psalm and the 25th verse; “I was young and now am old, yet have I to see the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”
But, you know what, we can’t seem to be content with that can we? Just our “daily bread” --I mean. I’ll admit that sometimes I find myself wanting a lot more than I have. I look around at other people living the “good life,” having and doing the things that I lust after. I sometimes get frustrated when I have to struggle just to make ends meet when it seems to come so easily for some. Does anyone else ever find themselves in that position? I mean, here I am--a Christian returning God’s tithe and offerings, trying to pattern my life after Jesus....... but I look
around and see so many who never thought of returning a tithe to God--who hardly--if ever go to church or think of God at all....and yet they seem to have so much more(material possessions) than me! What does the bible say about being content? 1Timothy 6:6-8 says;
“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
I guess it all goes back to what we read in Matthew chapter 6 where Jesus tells us to seek first the Kindom of God. And if you ever think that you have very little material possesions, just take a
look at all of Jesus’ material possessions; He had none! He had no house, no livestock, no boat--not even His own camel or donkey! In fact, listen to what He says in Matthew 8:20; He says;
“Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Now if this is how the King of the Universe lived, I think we should give thanks to the Lord for every seemingly little thing that we have.
Have you ever wondered why we say the blessing over our meals-- why we “give thanks”? I think that I understand it now -better than I ever have before. It’s not just some empty rite that we perform, when we pause to pray at meal-time, we are acknowledging our dependence on God our Father. We realize--three times a day that He is the Great Provider and that
from His hands all blessings flow and we thank Him for it.
And not just our food, but everything we need and many things that we just plain enjoy. Some may spend most- if not all of their lives thinking that they have no one to thank for anything they have, they have the idea that they “earned” it all by the sweat of their brow. But we know better don’t we? James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift is from above. For it is no doubt that God gives us this day our daily bread. And just because some don’t realize that it comes from God, out of His infinite love and mercy, He still continues to provide!
Now, so far we’ve talked about the material things that God provides for us. But when we pray the fourth petition we are asking for something even greater. We’re not just asking for bread, food, and other tangible things. No, Jesus wants us to be asking for something even more essential.... I don’t know about you, but the bible to me is not just a book, it’s like a very intricate puzzle. And I do truly love it when, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I see pieces coming together. And this is one instance; Turn with me to John 6:25-35
“25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. “
You see brothers and sisters, when we pray; give us this day our daily bread, we are not only asking for our material needs, but our spiritual needs as well. Jesus is the Bread of Life!
That’s what our communion service is all about; it’s not about feeding our guts--it’s about feeding our souls! The bread at communion is purposely broken in the sight of all to
symbolize the body of Christ that was broken for the world-- for us. We as participants--as citizens of the Kingdom all eat of that same body, remembering His supreme sacrifice for us and looking forward to the day when He Himself will again be physically with us.
In Matthew 4:4 Jesus says; “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
And in the gospel of John chapter one Jesus is referred to as the “Word.”
Let’s remember what Jesus said in John 6:27; “Work not for food that spoils, but for food that endures unto eternal life.” I don’t know about you, but I’m going to do just that and I’m going to do it “one day at a time.”
May God bless you as you continue to seek Him through the reading of His word.
