“Our Daily Bread”
The passage “Give us this day our daily bread” is found in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 also Luke 11:2-4). This prayer is the model prayer in contrast with the “vain repetitions” of the Pharisees (Matthew 6: 7). In the first part of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9, 10), attention is pointed to God’s kingdom. In the second part of the prayer (verses 11–13), petition is offered for the physical and spiritual needs of man.
It is God who gives man the “power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). Everything that he has comes from Him, and in his heart, there should ever be gratitude for His gifts. “For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:9). Even in the wilderness, Israel’s needs were fulfilled. The Lord gave them water from the rock and rained on them bread from heaven. God is the same today (Hebrews 13:8). He never turns anyone away empty (John 6:37).
Physical and Spiritual Bread
Our “daily bread” includes both physical and spiritual provisions. Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). The great purpose in man’s existence is that he “might feel after him, and find him” (Acts 17:27).
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus’ miracles of physical healing gave an abundant physical life to the sick. But physical healing was not the complete fulfillment of His mission. Man, also have spiritual life that must also be healed, for “man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
In seeking for the daily bread, man must also do his part and work to earn it. The Lord instructs, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Adam was told “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread” (Genesis 3:19). Christ Himself, worked as a “carpenter” (Mark 6:3). Therefore, the Christian is to do everything in his power to help himself and others (Ephesians 4:28).
God Cares
God proved His love for us when He gave His Son to die on our behalf (John 3:16). There is no greater love than this (John 15:13). So, we know if God would not spare even His own Son, He will surely not withhold any good thing from us (Romans 8:32). It is God’s nature to give (James 1:17). And He finds joy in blessing His children.
Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:7-11).
The best cure for us so that we don’t worry about “our daily bread” is trust in God. If we do our part faithfully, God will take care of us and provide for our needs. He will graciously “anoint” our heads with oil (Matthew 6:17). For “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
